The California Missions

Pilot Guides

Starting in 1769, Spain built a chain of 21 missions across the length of Alta California—from San Diego to Sonoma—as a way of gaining a foothold in the new frontier.

California’s mission era ended in 1834, but you can still see the architectural legacy in the state’s red tile roofs, whitewashed walls, arched colonnades, and bell towers. The missions were built approximately 30 miles apart—about a day’s journey by horseback.

In 1769, under order of the Spanish king, sea and land expeditions departed Mexico for California, meeting in San Diego where the first fort and mission were established to serve as frontier outposts. The King sent military troops and Franciscan missionaries to the new land to colonize the territory and convert its Indian inhabitants to Christianity.

Over 54 years, four forts, or presidios, and twenty-one missions were founded along the California coast. Some of these sites eventually evolved into the state’s major cities, including San Diego, Santa Barbara, San Jose and San Francisco.

Founding of the California missions began seven years before the American Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, and ended 25 years before gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill in 1848. Mission expansion came to an end in 1823, when mission bells rang in Sonoma.

The missions were established by Catholic priests of the Franciscan order to evangelize indigenous peoples backed by the military force of the Spanish Empire. The missions were part of the expansion and settlement of New Spain through the formation of Alta California, expanding the empire into the most northern and western parts of Spanish North America. Civilian settlers and soldiers accompanied missionaries and formed settlements like the Pueblo de Los Ángeles.

Indigenous peoples were forced into settlements disrupting their traditional way of life and negatively affecting as many as one thousand villages..European diseases spread in the close quarters of the missions, causing mass death.Abuse, malnourishment, and overworking were common.

Almost 100,000 baptisms and deaths were recorded by the missions..Indigenous peoples often resisted and rejected conversion to Christianity.Some fled the missions while others formed rebellions.

Missionaries recorded frustrations with getting indigenous people to internalize Catholic scripture and practice. Indigenous girls were taken away from their parents and housed at monjeríos. The missions’ role in destroying Indigenous culture has been described as cultural genocide.

Beginning with Mission San Diego de Alcalá founded in 1769 and ending with Mission San Francisco Solano founded in 1823, the California missions served as the first major European effort to colonize the Pacific Coast, which gave Spain a valuable toehold in the New World.

Located in Central California, Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa is named after Saint Louis, Bishop of Toulouse, and was founded fifth in the chain on September 1st, 1772 by Father Junipero Serra.

The mission was founded three years after the fathers first discovered La Cañada de Los Osos – the Valley of the Bears – during a failed trip from San Diego in search of Monterey.

Established late in the mission era and the last of the Southern California missions, Mission Santa Inés was dedicated number nineteen in the chain on September 17, 1804 by Father Estevan Tapis. Named after Saint Agnes and nestled in the Santa Ynez Valley, the missions proximity to the Danish town of Solvang makes for an interesting blend of cultures.

The mission was originally going to be located in California’s interior near the San Joaquin Valley, but the plan was abandoned. Designated “Mission of the Passes”, to arrive at Mission Santa Inés, visitors had to battle the San Marcos Pass, take the Refugio Pass or the Gaviota Pass, otherwise known as El Camino Real. This isolation discouraged visitors to Santa Inés, and consequently the missions social life was limited.

The California Missions Foundation was created in 1998 as the only organization dedicated to restoring and protecting all 21 mission structures and their contents, with the goal of preserving California’s rich history.All 21 are open to visitors and feature a gift shop and museum.

Here is a list of all 21 missions –

San Francisco Solano
San Rafael Arcángel
San Francisco de Asís
San José
Santa Clara de Asís
Santa Cruz
San Juan Bautista
San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo
Nuestra Señora de La Soledad
San Antonio de Padua
San Miguel Arcángel
San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
La Purísima Concepción
Santa Inés
Santa Bárbara
San Buenaventura
San Fernando Rey
San Gabriel Arcángel
San Juan Capistrano
San Luis Rey de Francía
San Diego de Alcalá