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California Franciscan Missions

When Spanish settlers arrived in California in the 18th century, they made it their goal to spread Christianity (more specifically, Catholicism) to the Native Americans that occupied the area. The twenty-one missions, which were built from 1769-1823, signified the first European attempts to colonize the California region. The missions span a 650-mile stretch of California land, which the missionaries called “El Camino Real”, or “The King’s Highway”. Missionaries and natives lived at the missions, and missionaries introduced European food and trades, such as blacksmithing, to the Native Americans. Bells were a vital part of mission life, signaling meal times and masses. Father Junipero Serra founded the chain of missions, and built several missions before his death in 1784 . He is buried at Mission San Carlos Borromeo.

Missions are listed here in geographical order, from south to north.

Mission San Diego de Alcala (1769): The first mission to be built in California, Mission San Diego was founded by Father Junipero Serra and was not initially well-received by the wary Native Americans, and suffered several attacks.

Mission San Luis Rey (1798): Located in Oceanside, Mission San Luis Rey is one of the most well-maintained and intact missions, and incorporates Mexican, Moorish, and Spanish architectural styles.

Mission San Juan Capistrano (1776): Considered “the jewel of the California missions”, Mission San Juan Capistrano was the seventh of twenty-one missions built along the California coast. Founded in 1776 by Spanish missionaries, the adobe mission stands partially restored today. Though the original, ornate church was destroyed in an 1812 earthquake, some original parts of the mission still remain. Every year around March 19, cliff swallows migrate back to the mission, where they have built their nests for centuries. During the week before March 19, the city of San Juan Capistrano hosts the Fiesta de las Golondrinas, a weeklong festival celebrating the swallows’ return to California and culminating in the Swallows Day Parade.

Mission San Gabriel Arcángel (1771): The fourth mission, Mission San Gabriel is noted for its unique architectural features, narrow windows and capped buttresses, and is located in the city of San Gabriel. Like many other missions, Mission San Gabriel is still a fully-functioning Roman Catholic church.

Mission San Fernando Rey de España (1797): Mission San Fernando is located in Los Angeles in the area of Mission Hills and was the 17th mission to be built.

Mission San Buenaventura (1782): Located in Ventura, Mission San Buenaventura was the last mission founded by Father Junipero Serra, who founded the first mission in San Diego. Today, only a small part of the mission is still intact, and the restored chapel stands in place of the original chapel, which burned down in 1793.

Mission Santa Barbara (1786): Completed in 1786, Mission Santa Barbara ranks 10 of California's 21 missions. Located just minutes from downtown Santa Barbara, the mission is a can't miss when visiting the city. There is a self guided tour of the mission museum, which covers Chumash Indian life at Spanish contact well into modern mission history. Santa Barbara mission is well preserved, and has a nice park setting for photo shoots or picnics. Just up the road is the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum and the Botanical Gardens.

Mission Santa Inés (1804): Located an hour away from Santa Barbara in Solvang, Mission Santa Ines was built to relieve overcrowding in nearby missions. It is a smaller mission, and though it has been restored, only a portion of the original mission is still intact, as the original structure was damaged in an earthquake in 1812.

Mission de La Purísima Concepción (1787): La Purisima Mission is located between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo in the town of Lompoc. The mission is no longer used as a Catholic church, but welcomes visitors and offers guided tours of its restored campus.

Mission San Luis Obispo (1772): Mission San Luis Obispo De Tolosa is centrally located in San Luis Obispo in the beautiful mission plaza. Founded in 1772, it is California's fifth mission. Mission San Luis Obispo is an active parish, with daily mass. There is an attached museum with self guided tours, and the church is still available for baptisms and weddings. Nearby is the historic downtown center, Chinatown, San Luis Obispo historical society and a wonderful local artists gallery.

Mission San Miguel Arcángel (1797): Mission San Miguel is located in San Luis Obispo County, in the city of San Miguel. The mission has suffered great damage over the course of its history, due to earthquakes and a nearby railroad, but has recently been restored and reopened to the public. Murals inside the church are the original artwork, and the mission is known for its arcade with a series of intentionally different sized arches.

Mission San Antonio de Padua (1771): Mission San Antonio, located in the rural town of Jolon, is unique for many reasons. The first Christian marriage in California was performed onsite, and the mission is adorned with California’s first fired-tile roof. It is the only mission with a fired-brick façade.

Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad (1791): Mission Soledad, located in the town of Soledad, was the thirteenth mission and is nicknamed “the lonely mission” because it fell into ruins after its secularization in 1835. It has since been restored and is currently a museum and chapel, but only a small portion of the original structures remains.

Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo (1770): Located near Carmel and known as the Carmel Mission, it is considered one of the most beautiful missions, and is the only mission whose original bell tower dome is intact. Today, the mission is an active Catholic church and museum.

Mission San Juan Bautista (1797): The largest of the California missions, Mission San Juan Bautista was featured in the Alfred Hitchcock film Vertigo and is currently an active Catholic church. Like many other missions, Mission San Juan Bautista suffered earthquake damage in the 19th century, but has since been restored and stands in the city of San Juan Bautista.

Mission Santa Cruz (1791): Mission Santa Cruz consists entirely of restored buildings; nothing except a row of houses and a remnant of the original mission wall remains of the original structure. It is a museum and active Catholic church that holds masses, weddings, and funerals in the city of Santa Cruz.

Mission Santa Clara de Asís (1777): Mission Santa Clara is located in Santa Clara on the Santa Clara University campus. The mission has been rebuilt six times over the course of its lifetime, and serves as a museum and university chapel.

Mission San José (1797): Mission San Jose in Fremont was the fourteenth mission and currently serves as a chapel and museum. Parts of the original mission are still intact, including a wing that now serves as the museum. It is noted for its simple exterior and exquisite interior.

Mission San Francisco de Asís (1776): The oldest surviving structure in San Francisco, Mission San Francisco’s original chapel, built in 1791, still stands. The adobe chapel replaced the original wooden structure.

Mission San Rafael Arcángel (1817): Mission San Rafael was founded as a sub-mission to Mission San Francisco and served as a hospital for sick Native Americans. No original structures remain – by 1870, the mission had fallen into ruins, leaving only a pear tree. The restored mission sits on the same site as the original hospital in the city of San Rafael, and serves as a museum.

Mission San Francisco Solano (1823): Mission San Francisco Solano was the last and northernmost mission to be founded in California. Located in Sonoma, it currently serves as a museum.