Before we continue inside, to the right of the entrance we can see a statue of Father Junipero Serra.

Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, founded in 1772, was the fifth mission established by Father Junipero Serra. While on his way to other missions, Fr. Serra noted the numerous amount of bears in the area, and named it La Canada de Los Osos; translated "The Valley of the Bears." Later, when supplies of food were short at the other missions, he remembered this area and decided to found a mission here to supply bear meat to the other starving missions.

Father Serra erected a cross and held mass at the site, only to leave the next day to continue his duties. He put Father Cavalier in charge of building the mission. Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa was finally completed in 1793.

Shown here is a statue of Father Junipero Serra and a representation of the cross he erected in 1772.

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