Now let us step outside to look at the front of Old Mission San Miguel. Step back both in time, and to admire the original 12 arches forming the colonnade (a row of columns holding the roof of the front arcade - you know what that is now!). See if you can find me in the picture!

There is one column each to commemorate one of the original twelve Apostles. (Although it should be noted that we are not sure exactly which Apostle each one is named after!) Notice the planned variety of their shapes and sizes, for which Mission San Miguel is famous.

In the center of the courtyard there is a beautiful water fountain. In the old mission days, a fountain such as this one was a very important detail in an arid environment such as San Miguel has. In addition, to the early Spanish settlers the flowing water of the fountain was a symbol of life. The fountain is surrounded by a garden of over 30 varieties of cacti, roses, and olive trees. Also in the courtyard there is an antique cannon made in Spain in 1697. The cannon was brought to the Mission by the Mexican Army.

You will also notice in the foreground, an early Mission mill stone. Probably donkey powered, stones such as these were used to mill (grind) the wheat grown at the Mission into flour for baking bread (you have already seen the oven where the bread was baked). Just behind the stone and before the fountain is a terra cotta tiled floor. The harvested wheat would have been thrashed by hand on a floor such as this one to separate the wheat kernel from the wheat stalk and chaff before milling.

Also in the courtyard, there are examples of early Mission olive presses and other food prepartion and processing equipment. The Mission was very self-contained.

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