The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa
History
The Mission Inn began as a 12-room adobe boarding house that was built by Christopher Columbus Miller on land deeded him by the city as payment for his services as a civil engineer. Known as Glenwood Cottage, the property began its evolution under the ownership of Frank Miller, a voracious collector who has forever defied accurate description. Following family tours abroad, Miller incorporated his extensive acquisitions into both the Inn’s decor and its structure. From the home’s first addition, the Mission Wing, grew the Cloister Wing and Music Room, the Spanish Wing and Art Gallery and the dramatic International Rotunda with its flying buttresses.
Other areas of interest are the outdoor Court of the Orient, the St. Francis of Assisi Chapel with its 18-Karat gold leaf Rayas altar and Spanish-colonial inspired courtyard known as the Atrio. Docent-led tours highlight the fascinating history and evolution of The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa and the more than 6,000 pieces of art on display throughout the hotel.
