List of Spanish missions in California

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The horse and mule trail known as El Camino Real as of 1821 and the locations of the 21 Franciscan missions in Alta California SpanishMissionsinCA.png
The horse and mule trail known as El Camino Real as of 1821 and the locations of the 21 Franciscan missions in Alta California

Franciscan priests established 21 missions between 1769 and 1833 in Alta California, accompanied by military outposts. Their goal was to spread Christianity among the local Native Americans, as well as to affirm Spanish, and later Mexican, claims to the region.

Contents

Overview

To facilitate overland travel, the mission settlements were situated approximately 30 miles (48 kilometers) apart, about one day's journey on horseback, or three days on foot. The entire trail eventually became a 600-mile (966-kilometer) long "California Mission Trail." Rev. Lasuén successfully argued that filling in the empty spaces along El Camino Real with additional outposts would provide much-needed rest stops where travelers could take lodging in relative safety and comfort. [1] :132 [2] :152 Heavy freight movement was practical only via water. Tradition has it that the padres sprinkled mustard seeds along the trail to mark it with bright yellow flowers. [3] :79 [4] :260

Today a growing number of people, calling themselves California Mission Walkers, hike the mission trail route, usually in segments between the missions. [5] Walking the trail is a way to connect with the history of the missions. For some it represents a spiritual pilgrimage, inspired by Jesuit priest Richard Roos' 1985 book, Christwalk. [6] The loosely organized group is attempting to formalize the route and establish markers, similar to the 330-mile (530 km) El Camino de Santiago, in Spain.

Missions

There were 21 missions, 8 asistencias, and 5 estancias in what is now California.

List of missions in geographical order, north to south
NameImageDateLocationNotes
Mission San Francisco Solano Mission San Francisco Solano. Sonoma State Historic Park.jpg 1823 Sonoma
38°17′38″N122°27′20″W / 38.29389°N 122.45556°W / 38.29389; -122.45556 (Mission San Francisco Solano)
Originally planned as an asistencia of Mission San Rafael Arcángel. Serves as a museum.
Mission San Rafael Arcángel Saint Raphael Church San Rafael CA.jpg 1817 San Rafael
37°58′27″N122°31′40″W / 37.97417°N 122.52778°W / 37.97417; -122.52778 (Mission San Rafael Arcángel)
Nonextant. Originally planned as the third asistencia of Mission San Francisco de Asís. A reconstruction of the original mission was completed in 1949, which served as a parish church and museum.
Mission San Francisco de Asís San Francisco de Asis--Mission Dolores.JPG 1776 San Francisco
37°45′51″N122°25′37″W / 37.76417°N 122.42694°W / 37.76417; -122.42694 (Mission San Francisco de Asís)
Also known as Mission Dolores. Serves as a parish church.
Mission San José Mission San Jose April 2011 001.jpg 1797 Fremont
37°31′58″N121°55′10″W / 37.53278°N 121.91944°W / 37.53278; -121.91944 (Mission San José)
Serves as a parish church and museum.
Mission Santa Clara de Asís Mission Santa Clara.jpg 1777 Santa Clara
37°20′57″N121°56′29″W / 37.34917°N 121.94139°W / 37.34917; -121.94139 (Mission Santa Clara de Asís)
Serves as a parish church within Santa Clara University.
Mission Santa Cruz MissionSantaCruzCalifornia.jpg 1791 Santa Cruz
36°58′41″N122°1′45″W / 36.97806°N 122.02917°W / 36.97806; -122.02917 (Mission Santa Cruz)
Nonextant. A reconstruction of the original mission was completed in the 1930s, which serves as a parish church and museum.
Mission San Juan Bautista Mission San Juan Bautista.jpg 1797 San Juan Bautista
36°50′42″N121°32′9″W / 36.84500°N 121.53583°W / 36.84500; -121.53583 (Mission San Juan Bautista)
Serves as a parish church.
Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo MissionCarmelSEGL2.jpg 1770 Carmel
36°32′33″N121°55′11″W / 36.54250°N 121.91972°W / 36.54250; -121.91972 (Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo)
Serves as a parish church and museum.
Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad Nuestra Senora del la Soledad chapel.JPG 1791 Soledad
36°24′16″N121°21′20″W / 36.40444°N 121.35556°W / 36.40444; -121.35556 (Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad)
In ruins. A reconstruction of the original mission was completed in 1955, which serves as a parish church and museum.
Mission San Antonio de Padua Mission San Antonio de Padua modern.jpg 1771near Jolon
36°00′54″N121°15′00″W / 36.01500°N 121.25000°W / 36.01500; -121.25000 (Mission San Antonio de Padua)
Serves as a parish church and museum.
Mission San Miguel Arcángel MissionSanMiguelArches.JPG 1797 San Miguel
35°44′41″N120°41′53″W / 35.74472°N 120.69806°W / 35.74472; -120.69806 (Mission San Miguel Arcángel)
Serves as a parish church and museum.
Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Mission San Luis Obispo.JPG 1772 San Luis Obispo
35°16′50″N120°39′52″W / 35.28056°N 120.66444°W / 35.28056; -120.66444 (Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa)
Serves as a parish church and museum.
Mission La Purísima Concepción La Purisima.jpg 1787 Lompoc
34°40′13″N120°25′14″W / 34.67028°N 120.42056°W / 34.67028; -120.42056 (Mission La Purísima Concepción)
Serves as a museum.
Mission Santa Inés Mission StInes.jpg 1804 Solvang
34°35′40″N120°08′11″W / 34.59444°N 120.13639°W / 34.59444; -120.13639 (Mission Santa Inés)
Serves as a parish church and museum.
Mission Santa Barbara Mission Santa Barbara01.jpg 1786 Santa Barbara
34°26′18″N119°42′50″W / 34.43833°N 119.71389°W / 34.43833; -119.71389 (Mission Santa Barbara)
Serves as a parish church and friary.
Mission San Buenaventura Mission San Buenaventura.jpg 1782 Ventura
34°16′52″N119°17′53″W / 34.28111°N 119.29806°W / 34.28111; -119.29806 (Mission San Buenaventura)
Serves as a parish church and museum.
Mission San Fernando Rey de España MSF 033.jpg 1797 Los Angeles
34°16′23″N118°27′40″W / 34.27306°N 118.46111°W / 34.27306; -118.46111 (Mission San Fernando Rey de España)
Serves as a parish church and museum.
Mission San Gabriel Mission San Gabriel 4-15-05 6611.JPG 1771 San Gabriel
34°5′50″N118°6′22″W / 34.09722°N 118.10611°W / 34.09722; -118.10611 (Mission San Gabriel)
The current mission church dates to 1805. Serves as a parish church and museum.
Mission San Juan Capistrano Mission San Juan Capistrano 02.jpg 1776 San Juan Capistrano
33°30′10″N117°39′46″W / 33.50278°N 117.66278°W / 33.50278; -117.66278 (Mission San Juan Capistrano)
The Serra Chapel, built in 1782, is the oldest extant building in California. [7] Serves as a parish church and museum.
Mission San Luis Rey de Francia Mission San Luis Rey de Francia current.jpg 1798 Oceanside
33°13′57″N117°19′12″W / 33.23250°N 117.32000°W / 33.23250; -117.32000 (Mission San Luis Rey de Francia)
Serves as a parish church, museum, and religious retreat center.
Mission San Diego de Alcalá San-diego-mission-chuch.JPG 1769 San Diego
32°47′4″N117°6′23″W / 32.78444°N 117.10639°W / 32.78444; -117.10639 (Mission San Diego de Alcalá)
Serves as a parish church and museum.

Two Franciscan missions, Mission Puerto de Purísima Concepción and Mission San Pedro y San Pablo de Bicuñer, were constructed within the present-day borders of California but were administered as part of the Spanish missions of Pimería Alta. As such, they are not considered a part of the 21 missions of Alta California.

Asistencias

Asistencias were branch missions that allowed the priests to extend their reach into the native population at a modest cost.

List of Asistencias in geographical order, north to south
NameImageDateLocationNotes
Santa Eulalia Asistencia 1824 Cordelia
38°14′16″N122°07′28″W / 38.23778°N 122.12444°W / 38.23778; -122.12444 (Santa Eulalia Asistencia)
The ruins are preserved behind a business park at the intersection of Sandstone Way and Westamerica Drive. [8] [9]
San Pedro y San Pablo Asistencia SanPabloYSanPedro.png 1786 Pacifica
37°35′14″N122°29′36″W / 37.58722°N 122.49333°W / 37.58722; -122.49333 (San Pedro y San Pablo Asistencia)
Nonextant. First asistencia of Mission San Francisco de Asís.
Mission Dolores Asistencia 1793-94 San Mateo
37°33′55″N122°19′40″W / 37.56528°N 122.32778°W / 37.56528; -122.32778 (Mission Dolores Asistencia)
Nonextant. Second asistencia of Mission San Francisco de Asís. A granary was built south of San Mateo Creek in 1793-94 before being destroyed during an 1808 earthquake. A new adobe granary was built north of the creek before being demolished in 1868. [10]
Santa Margarita de Cortona Asistencia Santa Margarita Asistencia 1881 painting.jpg 1787 Santa Margarita
35°24′2″N120°36′44″W / 35.40056°N 120.61222°W / 35.40056; -120.61222 (Santa Margarita de Cortona Asistencia)
Asistencia of Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. The ruins are preserved within a barn on Santa Margarita Ranch (private).
Santa Paula Asistencia Club in background.jpg c.1800 Santa Paula
34°21′21″N119°03′03″W / 34.35583°N 119.05083°W / 34.35583; -119.05083 (Santa Paula Asistencia)
Nonextant. Asistencia of Mission San Buenaventura. Little else is known. [11] [12]
Nuestra Señora Reina de los Ángeles Asistencia 1784 Los Angeles
34°03′26″N118°14′23″W / 34.0572°N 118.2396°W / 34.0572; -118.2396 (Nuestra Señora Reina de los Ángeles Asistencia)
Nonextant. Asistencia of Mission San Gabriel Arcángel. The site is occupied by La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles.
Santa Ysabel Asistencia Santa Ysabel Asistencia church circa 1875.jpg 1818 Santa Ysabel
33°7′49″N116°40′41″W / 33.13028°N 116.67806°W / 33.13028; -116.67806 (Santa Ysabel Asistencia)
Nonextant. Asistencia of Mission San Diego de Alcalá. A new chapel was constructed in 1924. Serves as a parish church and museum.
San Antonio de Pala Asistencia Mission San Antonio de Pala - 01.JPG 1816 Pala Indian Reservation
33°21′40″N117°04′45″W / 33.36111°N 117.07917°W / 33.36111; -117.07917 (San Antonio de Pala Asistencia)
Asistencia of Mission San Luis Rey de Francia. The chapel serves as a parish church and museum.

Estancias

An estancia or estância is a Spanish or Portuguese term describing private landholdings used for farming or raising livestock. They assisted in the development of their parent missions.

List of Estancias in geographical order, north to south
NameImageDateLocationNotes
San Marcos Estancia c.1800near Santa Ynez
34°32′50″N119°52′40″W / 34.54722°N 119.87778°W / 34.54722; -119.87778 (San Marcos Estancia)
Nonextant. Estancia of Mission Santa Barbara. Little else is known. [13] [14]
San Francisco Xavier Estancia CHL No. 556 Rancho San Francisco.jpg 1804 Castaic Junction
34°25′58″N118°36′19″W / 34.43278°N 118.60528°W / 34.43278; -118.60528 (San Francisco Xavier Estancia)
Nonextant. Estancia of Mission San Fernando Rey de España.
San Bernardino de Sena Estancia San Bernardino Asistencia.jpg 1819 Redlands
34°02′40″N117°13′15″W / 34.04444°N 117.22083°W / 34.04444; -117.22083 (San Bernardino de Sena Estancia)
Estancia of Mission San Gabriel Arcángel. The reconstructed buildings serve as a museum.
Santa Ana Estancia Diego Sepulveda Adobe 2013-11-02 17-26-03.jpg 1817 Costa Mesa
33°40′23″N117°56′13″W / 33.67306°N 117.93694°W / 33.67306; -117.93694 (Santa Ana Estancia)
Also known as the Costa Mesa Estancia. Estancia of Mission San Juan Capistrano. The Diego Sepúlveda Adobe serves as a museum.
Las Flores Estancia San Pedro Chapel.jpg 1823 Camp Pendleton
33°17′59″N117°27′39″W / 33.29972°N 117.46083°W / 33.29972; -117.46083 (Las Flores Estancia)
Estancia of Mission San Luis Rey de Francia. The building is part of a Boy Scout camp.

Presidios

Presidios in chronological order:

See also

On Spanish Missions:

On California history:

On general missionary history:

On colonial Spanish American history:

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Las Flores Estancia</span> 19th century Catholic missionary outpost

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References

  1. Yenne, Bill (2004). The Missions of California. Advantage Publishers Group, San Diego, California. ISBN   1-59223-319-8.
  2. Bennett, John E (January 1897a). "Should the California Missions Be Preserved? – Part I". Overland Monthly. XXIX (169): 9–24.
  3. Markham, Edwin (1914). California the Wonderful: Her Romantic History, Her Picturesque People, Her Wild Shores. Hearst's International Library Company, Inc., New York.
  4. Riesenberg, Felix (1962). The Golden Road: The Story of California's Spanish Mission Trail. McGraw-Hill, New York. ISBN   0-07-052740-7.
  5. "El Camino Real's California Mission Walkers". California Mission Guide. 2014.
  6. Roos, Fr. Richard (1985). "Christwalk". Paulist Press.
  7. "San Juan Capistrano – California Missions Foundation". californiamissionsfoundation.org. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  8. "U. S. Mission Trail, the Mission Trail Today - Spanish Missions in California - Asistencia Santa Eulalia". www.usmissiontrail.com. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  9. "California's Lost Mission". Daphne Wynne Nixon Paintings. 2009-02-04. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  10. "San Mateo asistencia (hospice) and granary". San Mateo Daily journal. 2009-02-02. Retrieved 2015-06-17.
  11. "U. S. Mission Trail, the Mission Trail Today - Spanish Missions in California - Asistencia Santa Paula". www.usmissiontrail.com. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  12. "Ventura". CA State Parks. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  13. "History". The Rancho San Marcos. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  14. "U. S. Mission Trail, the Mission Trail Today - Spanish Missions in California - Asistencia Santa Paula". usmissiontrail.com. Retrieved 2022-04-27.