Franciscan priests established 21 missions between 1769 and 1833 in Alta California, accompanied by military outposts. Their goal was to spread Christianity among the local Native Americans, as well as to affirm Spanish, and later Mexican, claims to the region.
Overview To facilitate overland travel, the mission settlements were situated approximately 30 miles (48 kilometers) apart, about one day's journey on horseback, or three days on foot. The entire trail eventually became a 600-mile (966-kilometer) long "California Mission Trail." Rev. Lasuén successfully argued that filling in the empty spaces along El Camino Real with additional outposts would provide much-needed rest stops where travelers could take lodging in relative safety and comfort. Heavy freight movement was practical only via water. Tradition has it that the padres sprinkled mustard seeds along the trail to mark it with bright yellow flowers.
Today a growing number of people, calling themselves California Mission Walkers, hike the mission trail route, usually in segments between the missions. Walking the trail is a way to connect with the history of the missions. For some it represents a spiritual pilgrimage, inspired by Jesuit priest Richard Roos' 1985 book, Christwalk. The loosely organized group is attempting to formalize the route and establish markers, similar to the El Camino de Santiago, in Spain.
Missions There were 21 missions, 8 asistencias, and 5 estancias in what is now California.
+ List of missions in geographical order, north to south NameImage Date Location Notes Mission San Francisco Solano 1823 Sonoma Originally planned as an asistencia of Mission San Rafael Arcángel. Serves as a museum. Mission San Rafael Arcángel 1817 San Rafael Nonextant. Originally planned as the third asistencia of Mission San Francisco de Asís. A reconstruction of the original mission was completed in 1949, which served as a parish church and museum. Mission San Francisco de Asís 1776 San Francisco Also known as Mission Dolores. Serves as a parish church. Mission San José 1797 Fremont Serves as a parish church and museum. Mission Santa Clara de Asís 1777 Santa Clara Serves as a parish church within Santa Clara University. Mission Santa Cruz 1791 Santa Cruz Nonextant. A reconstruction of the original mission was completed in the 1930s, which serves as a parish church and museum. Mission San Juan Bautista 1797 San Juan Bautista Serves as a parish church. Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo 1770 Carmel Serves as a parish church and museum. Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad 1791 Soledad In ruins. A reconstruction of the original mission was completed in 1955, which serves as a parish church and museum. Mission San Antonio de Padua 1771 near Jolon Serves as a parish church and museum. Mission San Miguel Arcángel 1797 San Miguel Serves as a parish church and museum. Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa 1772 San Luis Obispo Serves as a parish church and museum. Mission La Purísima Concepción 1787 Lompoc Serves as a museum. Mission Santa Inés 1804 Solvang Serves as a parish church and museum. Mission Santa Barbara 1786 Santa Barbara Serves as a parish church and friary. Mission San Buenaventura 1782 Ventura Serves as a parish church and museum. Mission San Fernando Rey de España 1797 Los Angeles Serves as a parish church and museum. Mission San Gabriel 1771 San Gabriel The current mission church dates to 1805. Serves as a parish church and museum. Mission San Juan Capistrano 1776 San Juan Capistrano The Serra Chapel, built in 1782, is the oldest extant building in California. Serves as a parish church and museum. Mission San Luis Rey de Francia 1798 Oceanside Serves as a parish church, museum, and religious retreat center. Mission San Diego de Alcalá 1769 San Diego Serves as a parish church and museum.
Two Franciscan missions, Mission Puerto de Purísima Concepción and Mission San Pedro y San Pablo de Bicuñer, were constructed within the present-day borders of California but were administered as part of the Spanish missions of Pimería Alta. As such, they are not considered a part of the 21 missions of Alta California.
Asistencias Asistencias were branch missions that allowed the priests to extend their reach into the native population at a modest cost.
+ List of Asistencias in geographical order, north to south NameImage Date Location Notes Santa Eulalia Asistencia 1824 Cordelia The ruins are preserved behind a business park at the intersection of Sandstone Way and Westamerica Drive. San Pedro y San Pablo Asistencia 1786 Pacifica Nonextant. First asistencia of Mission San Francisco de Asís. Mission Dolores Asistencia 1793–94 San Mateo Nonextant. Second asistencia of Mission San Francisco de Asís. A granary was built south of San Mateo Creek in 1793–94 before being destroyed during an 1808 earthquake. A new adobe granary was built north of the creek before being demolished in 1868. Santa Margarita de Cortona Asistencia 1787 Santa Margarita Asistencia of Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. The ruins are preserved within a barn on Santa Margarita Ranch (private). Santa Paula Asistencia Santa Paula Nonextant. Asistencia of Mission San Buenaventura. Little else is known. Nuestra Señora Reina de los Ángeles Asistencia 1784 Los Angeles Nonextant. Asistencia of Mission San Gabriel Arcángel. The site is occupied by La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles. Santa Ysabel Asistencia 1818 Santa Ysabel Nonextant. Asistencia of Mission San Diego de Alcalá. A new chapel was constructed in 1924. Serves as a parish church and museum. San Antonio de Pala Asistencia 1816 Pala Indian Reservation Asistencia of Mission San Luis Rey de Francia. The chapel serves as a parish church and museum.
Estancias An estancia or estância is a Spanish or Portuguese term describing private landholdings used for farming or raising livestock. They assisted in the development of their parent missions.
+ List of Estancias in geographical order, north to south NameImage Date Location Notes San Marcos Estancia near Santa Ynez Nonextant. Estancia of Mission Santa Barbara. Little else is known. San Francisco Xavier Estancia 1804 Castaic Junction Nonextant. Estancia of Mission San Fernando Rey de España. San Bernardino de Sena Estancia 1819 Redlands Estancia of Mission San Gabriel Arcángel. The reconstructed buildings serve as a museum. Santa Ana Estancia 1817 Costa Mesa Also known as the Costa Mesa Estancia. Estancia of Mission San Juan Capistrano. The Diego Sepúlveda Adobe serves as a museum. Las Flores Estancia 1823 Camp Pendleton Estancia of Mission San Luis Rey de Francia. The building is part of a Boy Scout camp.
Presidios Presidios in chronological order: El Presidio Real de San Diego (Presidio of San Diego), founded July 16, 1769 El Presidio Real de San Carlos de Monterey (Presidio of Monterey, California), founded June 3, 1770 El Presidio Real de San Francisco (Presidio of San Francisco), founded December 17, 1776 El Presidio Real de Santa Bárbara (Presidio of Santa Barbara), founded April 12, 1782 El Presidio de Sonoma (Sonoma Barracks), founded 1810
See also Bibliography of California history On Spanish Missions: Spanish missions in Arizona Spanish missions in Baja California Spanish missions in the Sonoran Desert (including Sonora and southern Arizona)
On California history: Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail History of California through 1899 History of the west coast of North America Mission Vieja
On general missionary history: Catholic Church and the Age of Discovery History of Christian Missions List of the oldest churches in Mexico Missionary
On colonial Spanish American history: Spanish colonization of the Americas California mission clash of cultures Indian Reductions California Genocide Native Americans in the United States
References
External links
California Missions Foundation California Mission Studies Association California's Spanish Missions Library of Congress: American Memory Project: Early California History, The Missions Tricia Anne Weber: The Spanish Missions of California California Historical Society National Register of Historic Places: Early History of the California Coast: List of Sites California Mission Sketches by Henry Miller, 1856 and Finding Aid to the Documents relating to Missions of the Californias : typescript, 1768-1802 at The Bancroft Library