The Missions of California

By 1697, the Jesuit order, in cooperation with Spain, had begun to establish a chain of missions in Lower or Baja California. King Carlos III recalled the priests in 1767 and authorized the Franciscan order to establish a series of missions binding Upper or Alta California into one province. Now golden mustard blooms scattered by the gray-robbed priests grow along the mission path linking San Diego Bay to Sonoma, north of San Francisco Bay.

Missions were designed to indoctrinate the Indians to Christianity, while serving as self-contained and self-sufficient communities. At the same time, missions ensured Spain’s dominion and control over new territory. Father Junipero Serra personally established six missions: San Diego de Alcala, San Carlos Borromeo, San Luis Obispo, San Juan Capistrano, San Buenaventura and Santa Barbara.

San Francisco Solano: July 4, 1823

San Rafeal Arcangel: December 14, 1817

San Jose de Guadalupe: June 11, 1779

San Rafael San Francisco de Asis: October 9, 1776

Santa Clara de Asis: January 12, 1777

Santa Cruz: August 28,1791

San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo: June 3,1770

San Juan Bautista: June 24, 1797

Nuestra Senora de la Soledad: Ocober 9, 1791

San Antonio de Padua: July 14, 1791

San Miguel Arcangel: July 25, 1797

San Luis Obispo de Tolosa: September 1, 1772

La Purisima Conception: December 8, 1787

Santa Ines: September 17, 1804

Santa Barbara: December 4, 1786

San Buenavertura: March 31, 1782

San Fernando rey de Espana: September 8, 1797

San Gabriel Arcangel: September 8, 1771

San Juan Capistrano: November 1, 1776

San Luis rey de Francia: June 13, 1798

San Diego de Alcala: July 16, 1769