Photos: Mission San Miguel Arcángel

A brick and mortar arch serves as the entrance to Mission San Miguel Arcángel. Established on July 25, 1797, by Franciscan monks, the site was chosen for its proximity to large numbers of native Salinan Indians, whom the Spanish priests wanted to evangelize. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Sept. 3, 2014 12:45 PM PT

Historians say this is the only California mission with its original interior paint --boldly colorful designs that were probably applied before 1821 by Native Americans. The designs survived a 2003 earthquake, which prompted years of reconstruction.

Detail of a door at Mission San Miguel Arcángel. The mission was damaged in the San Simeon Earthquake and reopened in 2009 after six years of restoration work. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)