The history of the California missions that are still standing today. Tips on visiting these landmarks with your family.
Spanish authorities controlled much of California until the late 19th century. Although California has since been governed by Mexico and now by the United States, the Spanish influence is well preserved in the many old missions that are still standing in the state. The Catholic church, private foundations and preservation societies have been at the forefront of preserving these historical buildings, many of which attract visitors annually to the Southern California area.
Perhaps the most well known mission is the San Juan Capistrano Mission in Orange Country, founded by Father Junipero Serra in 1776. When the Mexicans gained their independence in 1821, the mission reverted to private ownership. But President Abraham Lincoln eventually restored the ownership of the mission to the Catholic church. The arched hallways of smooth stone and cool gardens are reflective of a humble Spanish hacienda of the 18th century. The tranquil setting is a refuge for many from the bustling Orange County that extends beyond the mission's property lines. Although the mission performs all the services provided by the Catholic Church - weddings, funerals, baptisms, and daily masses - the mission is also an educational center. Classes and lectures regarding the history of the mission and the surrounding area are held on a regular basis. The mission attracts more than just people, however. The most famous visitors are the swallows that return every March to build their homes in the eaves and rafters of the mission. The mission celebrates the annual return with the Swallows Festival held in mid-March.
At bit further north in Santa Barbara is the mission of San Buenaventura. This last mission built by Father Serra was completed in 1809 and has been used almost continually to the present day. For a brief period in 1812, a major earthquake damaged the mission. The missionaries were forced to relocate until repairs were complete. They were forced to evacuate the mission in the late 1818s once again due to savage bandits roaming the area. But the missionaries return for good once the danger had passed and the Catholic church continues to operate the mission to this day. The remarkable mission walls are nearly 6 feet thick, and the entire construction of the mission - performed with Indian labor - took fifteen years to complete. Due to destructive earthquakes, many of the original pieces of artwork have been replicated. Some do remain, however, such as the statue of St. Bonaventure said to be over 400 years old. Even two of the three bells in the bell tower are original to the mission.
Although Father Serra was the originator of the idea of the Mission of Santa Barbara, he died before ground had been broken for the new building. Subsequently, Father Fermin Lasuen - Father Serra's successor - is considered the founder of the Mission of Santa Barbara. The original mission was completely destroyed in 1812, but the disaster paved the wave for a more elaborate mission that would be known as the "Queen of the Missions" did. The new mission boasted two identical bell towers and the stone work is believed to be a hand replica of the pattern used on a temple in pre-Christian Rome. Parts of the mission's interiors boast beautifully carved artwork. The grounds - which used to house the adobe homes of the Indian converts - are full of inviting rose gardens and ancient, gnarled trees. At one point during the mission's history, the beauty of the mission was so attractive that the missionaries employed an armed guard to keep plunders at bay. The Mission of Santa Barbara is considered the only mission to be under the constant care of the Franciscan order of missionaries. The mission is also redeemed for having no secularized influences, as do other missions that have been under private control during a portion of their histories.
The oldest mission founded in California is the Mission of San Diego. As Father Serra and his traveling companions limped off the boat into the New World, he chose the area now known as San Diego from which to begin his missionary duties. However, the natives were rather hesitant to accept the word of God from the Spanish stranger. The first years were difficult for the mission, as labor to help with construction was limited and diseases among the Spanish deadly. Hostilities flared between the Indians and the Spaniards as the Indians took to stealing from the mission, and Spanish soldiers retaliated with their weapons. But eventually Father Serra was able to baptize the first Indian into his faith. Father Serra eventually left the nascent mission to establish others further north, but quickly returned when the Indians killed his colleague, Father Jayme, with arrows. Although the mission finally established itself among the Indians, Father Serra did not live to see the building of the Mission of San Diego. The mission today was completed in 1812, twenty-nine years after the death of Father Serra.
The work of Father Serra and his colleagues is evident in the many California missions that stretch from San Diego up to the San Francisco Bay. Most of these missions are now under the guidance of the Catholic Church and many are active in community education programs. A combination of the Catholic church and private organizations have made the preservation of these missions a reality, ensuring their enjoyment for years to come.
