Route 1 - San Luis Obispo North Coast Byway
Mission de San Luis Obispo, CA

One of California's oldest communities, San Luis Obispo, began with the founding of the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. Today, the mission serves as the cultural and literal center of the City of San Luis Obispo.

Founded on September 1, 1772, by Father Junipero Serra, Presidente of the California Missions Chain, the Mission San Luis Obispo was the 5th mission in the 21-mission chain in Alta California. Selected because of its location midway between San Diego and Monterey, the Mission San Luis Obispo was named for Saint Louis, Bishop of Toulouse. The mission is known for being the only mission with an L-shaped church in the entire state of California.