The Spanish missions of California

There are 21 missions that comprise the California mission system, scattered over a 650-mile distance down the pacific coastline.

Fray Junipero Serra founded the missions. He was the father-president of the Alta California Franciscan friars. Entrusted by Spain, with the holy task of bringing God’s salvation to the Indians of Alta California. Serra worked diligently from 1769 to 1823 to build the 21 missions.

Each of the missions were small, self-sustaining islands of commerce and Christianity. All were built along the coastline within a day’s travel of one another. The El Camino Real or The Royal Road connected them all.

Beginning in northern California, in San Franciso Solano, let's take a journey down the coast and visit each mission.

San Franciso Solano was the twenty-first, and last mission founded in 1823. This mission was named for St. Francis Solanus, a missionary to the Indians of Peru. The mission was restored in the early 1900's. It was sold and purchased by William Randolph Hearst in 1926 and deeded to the State of California.

The San Rafael Arcangel mission was the twentieth mission, founded in 1817 as a hospital for the Mission San Francisco de Asís. San Rafael Arcangel was given full mission status in 1823. The mission was named for St. Raphael, the patron saint of good health. The replication of the mission was completed in 1949. Since that time this mission has been damaged by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Very little of the original structure remain.

The sixth mission founded was the San Franciso deAsis. Founded in 1776. This mission was named for St. Francis of Assisi. The present building was built in 1782.

The San Jose mission was founded in 1797. It is the fourteenth mission and is named for St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church. The second church and convento were built in 1805, and were destroyed by an earthquake in 1868. A portion of the convento remains. This mission was partly restored in 1916 and 1950. The church was reconstructed between 1982-85.

Named for St. Clare of Assisi, Santa Clara de Asis was the eighth mission founded. It was founded in 1777. The present church was built in 1825, burned in 1926 and restored in 1929. When visiting Mission Santa Clara, take a look at the cross in front of the church. This is a new cross, built around an old cross, which dates back to the early mission days. At the bottom of this new cross, there is a little window to look through to see the original wood cross.

Mission Santa Cruz, named for the Holy Cross, is known as "the hard luck mission." Santa Cruz was the twelfth mission, founded in 1791. The Mission suffered flooding twice from the San Lorenzo River and was moved a few miles away to begin anew. Criminals inhabited the nearby town, so members of this mission were often exposed to unchristian behavior. Later, the town bandits robbed the mission while the padres were at a celebration at nearby Mission Santa Clara. In 1840, the Santa Cruz bell tower fell down. In 1857 an earthquake destroyed the entire mission. In 1930 a wealthy family planned to build a full-sized copy of Mission Santa Cruz on the mission site. While the new Mission was being built the stock market crashed. The family lost their fortune and could only afford to build a mission half the size of the original one.

San Juan Bautista, the fifteenth mission was founded 1797. This mission was named for St. John the Baptist. The present church was built around 1803 and was damaged by a 1906 earthquake. Financed by the Hearst Foundation, the mission was restored in 1950. The San Juan Bautista Fiesta Committee restored the side aisles later in 1975.

Built at the mount of the Carmel Valley, overlooking the sea lies San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmelo. This lovely mission was the second mission founded in 1770 by and named for St. Charles Borromeo, a 16th century Cardinal. The present church was built in 1793. The Carmelo is considered by many tourists to be the most beautiful of all the missions. It is unique from the other missions because of its star windows and the Moorish style of its grand tower. The interior patio is surrounded by the restored sand stone church and living quarters. The courtyard boasts a fountain in the midst of lush greenery. Pope John XXIII designated this mission church a Minor Basilica in 1960.

Nuestra Senora de la Soledad was the thirteenth mission. Founded in 1791 and named for Our Lady of Solitude. The present chapel was built in 1832.

The San Antonio de Padua was the third mission. It was founded in 1771 and named for St. Anthony. The present buildings were begun in 1810 and restored in 1949. In spite of the fact that the Hunter Ligget Military Reservation surrounds this mission, it is one of the most peaceful missions to visit. A walk down to the river as evening arrives allows visitors to spy a beautiful sunset overlooking the Junipero Serra Peak.

The San Miguel Arcangel mission is nestled in the rolling foothills of the Coastal Range. This is the sixteenth mission founded in 1797 and named for St. Michael the Archangel. The mission was created to fill the gap between the San Antonio and San Luis missions. The church and the long monastery are made of adobe and the wood used to construct the roof beams and ceiling came from a forest about 40 miles away. The freestanding bell wall of San Miguel contains unique brickwork. Since the 1940’s San Miguel has been a Franciscan school. Unlike other Missions where visitors can see rooms furnished as they were in the 1800s, San Miguel allows a walk through the mission grounds to see Franciscans going about their daily routines in the 21st century.

At San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, the fifth mission founded, the job of the bell ringer was taken very seriously. Neophyte Indian men spent up to 2 years just learning how to ring the bells, because of the complicated bell patterns used. The last two bell ringers at San Luís Obispo did this job for over 60 years each. This mission was founded in 1772. The present buildings were constructed in 1794 and were restored to original form in 1934.

The La Purisima Concepcion mission was the eleventh mission, founded in 1787 and named for “The Immaculate Conception of Mary the Most Pure.” The first buildings were erected in 1788 and have been authentically restored after being destroyed in an 1812 earthquake. The missions had been left in ruins for many decades until a group known as the Civilian Conservation Corps began to resurrect La Purisima Concepcion in the 1930's. The ceiling, walls and pulpit have been hand painted with beautiful intricate detail. The mission is operated by the state of California as a historic park. Visitors are greeted by costumed interpreters who reenact the lives of the occupants of the first mission settlers. Horses and cattle still graze on the grounds.

Not all the missions were easily established. In several of the missions the natives revolted causing blood shed and destruction. A one-day revolt in the mission of Santa Ines in 1824 ended in the destruction of a statue of Saint Agnes. The Santa Ines Mission was the nineteenth mission founded in 1804. "Ines " is the Spanish version of the name "Agnes." The mission was named for Saint Agnes who was killed in Rome for her Christian beliefs. The Present structures were dedicated in 1817. This mission also served as temporary quarters for The College of Our Lady of Refuge of Sinners, which was the first institution of higher education in California from 1844-46.

The beautiful Santa Barbara mission displays achectectual details and proportions of the early Mission style. This is the tenth mission, founded in 1786 and named for St. Barbara. It has been referred to as "The Queen of the Missions." The present church was completed in1820 with only one tower. A second was added later. This large mission includes an academy for students of Franciscanism. Part of this Mission is also a rest home for the elderly.

San Buenaventura was the ninth mission. It was founded in 1782 and named for St. Bonaventure. This mission was restored in 1957. The door on the side of the church has a "Moorish" design over it. The Indians interpreted the design in the following way: The small statue of the Virgin Mary over this door represented the Mission and the two sloping lines on each side of the Virgin represented the two rivers that pass on each side of the Mission.

The San Fernando Rey De Espana was the seventeenth mission, founded in 1797 and named for St. Ferdinand, King of Spain. This mission suffered complete devastation from earthquakes. The replica of this mission was dedicated in 1974.

The San Gabriel Arcangel was one of the most prosperous of the California missions. The padres and their converts worked diligently farming the earth, raising cattle and managing the largest vineyard in the area. The fourth mission was founded in 1771. It was named for the Archangel Gabriel. The present church was completed in 1805.

San Juan Capistrano was the seventh mission, founded in 1776 and named for St. John of Capistran, the Italian, and 14th-century theologian. This stone church was completed in 1806.

The early settlers called San Luis Rey de Francia, "King of Missions," because the buildings covered more than six acres in a valley near San Diego. The church was designed with a cruciform layout, and an octagonal dome above the transept. The inside of the church has the aspect of a palace with lavish paintings on the ceiling and pillars. This eighteenth mission was founded in 1798 and named for Louis IX, King of France. The present church was dedicated in 1815.

San Diego de Alcala was the first of the California missions founded in 1769. A sacred journey led by Father Serra brought them to this spot to begin their holy assignment. The original mission overlooked the San Diego bay, but had to be moved five miles to the valley in 1774. The adobe bell tower is one of the many signs that mark the path of the padres. There is a finished padre's room for visitors to view, displaying the sparse conditions in which the Spanish missionaries lived. In the garden of the Basilica stands a statue of a thirteenth-century Franciscan by the name of Anthony of Padua. The mission was named for St. Didacus of Alcalá. The present buildings and restoration of the 1813 church were completed in 1931.

Sixty years after the first mission was founded in San Diego de Alcala, Father Serra's quest was reported to have converted more than 17,000 Indians. The Franciscans called this indoctrination of the natives, "the great spiritual conquest of the wilderness."

For those who wish to take this journey in person down the California coast it is important to know that while most of the missions are open daily to the public with the exception of Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, admission hours may vary, and there is usually an admission fee. All the missions are located on or near Highway 101 and are served by both private and coastal bus lines. For further travel information to the California missions, contact the California Division of Tourism in Sacramento, California.