Hidden Chapel, Balboa Park, California

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Watch 360 Video! Welcome to Saint Francis Chapel! It was built for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition and dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi. You can find a statue of him just to the right of the altar. See it? Speaking of the altar, let’s take a closer look. In the middle you’ll see a statue of Our Lady and Child flanked on either side by statues of Saint Didacus de Alcala (who the San Diego Mission was named after) and Saint Xavier. If you look above them you’ll find busts depicting Saint Clare of Assisi and Saint Elizabeth of Hungary. You’ll also find two busts wearing bishop hats. Those are Saint Louis of Toulouse and Saint Bonaventure. Now, go ahead and spin around. If you look closely at the wooden beam above, you’ll see some words written in Latin. Translated, they say, “Holy Francis, Seraphic Father, Patron of the Missions in Upper California, pray for us.” But why a chapel in Balboa Park? Well, the designers wanted to bring a religious element to the Exposition and allow visitors a look into what the Spanish missions and chapels across Mexico and California resembled. That’s why you’ll find the beamed ceiling and bench seating associated with this style. This chapel is non-denominational and available for weddings and more. Enjoy your look around!

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