21 California Missions

There are 21 missions built in Alta California (U.S.) and additional missions in Baja California (Mexico). The missions were built by the Spanish government to create a stronghold in the North American continent through an effort to convert, educate, and civilize the indigenous population and transform the natives into Spanish colonial citizens. Total assimilation of indigenous populations (called neophytes or "new believers") into European culture and the Catholic religion was a doctrine established in 1531 in Spain.

Spanish arrived by ship and first established a presence in Baja (Mexico) California around 1534. The initial landing party was forced to abandon its  settlement at San Bruno due to the hostile response from natives. In 1695, missionaries failed again at Loreto. Finally Misión Nuestra Senora de Loreto Conchó succeeded and became both the administrative and  religious  capital of Baja California in 1697. Over the next 70 years the effort continued throughout the peninsula with 18 missions and two visitas (visiting stations) along the initial segment of El Camino Real (King's Road.) Alta California (now known as the State of California in the U.S.) was  next on the list for colonization. 21 missions were built in California between 1769 and 1823.

The continuation of missions into California under the leadership of Fr. Junipero Serra introduced livestock, fruits, vegetables, cattle, horses and ranching, plus outbreaks of measles and others diseases that caused the death of up to 90% of native populations.  The mission effort was a flop. They failed to become self-sustaining and funding was stopped. The Mexican Congress passed the Act for the Secularization of the Missions of California on August 17, 1833. The Act called for the colonization of both Alta and Baja California from proceeds of the sale of the mission property to private interests.

How the mission locations were selected:

Spanish Californians stayed close to the coast when selecting mission sites. The furthest inland is Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad  (Soledad Mission) 30 miles inland. The scarcity of imported materials and lack of skilled laborers, compelled the Fathers to employ simple building materials and methods in the construction of mission structures.

Introduced from Spain:

Olive trees and olive oil production.

Citrus groves and orchards that launched the fruit industry.

Wine grape stock plantings and production of wine

#NAME OF MISSION | ADDRESS| YEAR BUILT

1 Basilica San Diego de Alcala 10818 Mission Rd., SD | 1769  

11 | La Purisima Concepcion | Near Lompoc, off 101 | 1787, original design 

13 | Nuestra Senora de la Soledad | off 101 | 1791, stood in ruins for 100 yrs.  

3 | San Antonio de Padua | off 101 | 1771, one of largest  

- | San Antonia de Pala |   | 1816, to help San Luis Rey   

9 | San Buenaventura | Main&Figueroa, Ventura | 1782, last one from Fr. Serra

2 | San Carlos Borreomeo | Lausen Dr, Carmel | 1770,Fr.Serra buried here 

17 | San Fenando Rey de Espana | 15151 SF Mission Blvd. | 1797, Restored in 1971  

6 | San Francisco de Asis | Dolores & 16th | 1776 

21 | San Francisco Solano | Spain & 1st | 1823, northernmost & final  

4 | San Gabriel Arcangel  | 1120 Old Mill Rd | 1771, at crossroads 

14 | San Jose | 43300 Mission Blvd. | 1777, noted for music

15 | San Juan Bautista | off 101 | 1797 |

7 | San Juan Capistrano | off 1-5 at Ortega | 1776, swallows return  

5 | San Luis Obispo | Choro & Monterey St. | 1772, first to use tile tools |

18 | San Luis Rey de Francia | off Hwy 76 | 1798, most successful  

16 | San Miguel Arcangel | 801 Mission | 1797, last mission secularized  

20 | San Rafael Arcangel | A & 5th | 1817, aided sick Indians

10 | Santa Barbara | Laguna & Los Olivos | 1786, most beautiful 

8 | Santa Clara de Asis | Grant & Franklin | 1777, bell dated 1798  

12 | Santa Cruz | School & Emmet | 1791, rebuilt in 1931 

19 | Santa Ines | 1760 Mission Dr. | 1804, favorite for many  

- | Santa Ysabel | Hwy 79 near Julian | 1818, Indian burial grounds