Spaniards built 21 missions along Californian coast between 1769 and 1833, mainly along California 101, withthe purpose to recruit local natives, then convert, educate, and civilize the indigenous populations, turning them into Spanish colonial citizens. Each mission was designed to be about a day’s journey from the next (approx. 30 miles) and today, you can still visit replicas of these original missions as you drive on CA 101. Most of the missions are open to the public; you might pay $5 to visit the museums about early mission life.
California Missions Map
Led by a Franciscan, Fr. Junipero Serra, the California mission system had been launched. He is buried at the Carmel Mission.
Fray Junipero Serra
California Missions:
#1 | Basilica San Diego de Alcala (Mission San Diego de Alcalá)| 10818 Mission Rd., San Diego, CA | 1769, restored, looks like new, church services
#2 | Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Carmelo (Carmel) (Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo)| Lausen Dr, Carmel | 1770, Fr.Serra buried here, church services
#3 | San Antonio de Padua (Mission San Antonio de Padua) | off 101, Jolon | 1771, one of largest
#4 | San Gabriel Arcangel (Mission San Gabriel Arcángel) | 1120 Old Mill Rd | 1771, at crossroads
#5 | San Luis Obispo (Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa) | Choro & Monterey St. | 1772, first to use tile tools, located downtown
#6 | San Francisco de Asis (Mission San Francisco de Asís)| Dolores & 16th | 1776
#7 | San Juan Capistrano (Mission San Juan Capistrano )| off 1-5 at Ortega | 1776, Return of Swallows
#8 | Santa Clara de Asis (Mission Santa Clara)| Grant & Franklin | 1777, bell dated 1798
#9 | San Buenaventura (Mission San Buenaventura) | Ventura | Main&Figueroa, Ventura | 1782, last one from Fr. Serra, popular church
#10 | Santa Barbara (Mission Santa Barbara)| Laguna & Los Olivos | 1786, most beautiful, known for its twin bell towers
#11 | La Purisima Concepcion (Mission La Purísima Concepción) | Near Lompoc, off 101 | 1787, original design, favorite of school tours
#12 | Santa Cruz (Mission Santa Cruz)| School & Emmet | 1791, rebuilt in 1931
#13 | Nuestra Senora de la Soledad (Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad) | off 101, Soledad | 1791, stood in ruins for 100 yrs., very rustic
#14 | San Jose | 43300 Mission Blvd. | 1777, noted for music
#15 | San Juan Bautista (Mission San Juan Bautista)| off 101 | 1797, sits on San Andreas fault
#16 | San Miguel Arcangel (Mission San Miguel Arcángel)| 801 Mission, San Miguel | 1797, last mission secularized
#17 | San Fenando Rey de Espana (Mission San Fernando Rey de España)| 15151 SF Mission Blvd. | 1797, Restored in 1971
#18 | San Luis Rey de Francia (Mission San Luis Rey de Francia) | off Hwy 76, Oceanside | 1798, most successful, worth a see!
#19 | Santa Ines (Mission Santa Inés)| 1760 Mission Dr., Solvang | 1804, favorite for many
#20 | San Rafael Arcangel (Mission San Rafael Arcángel)| A & 5th | 1817, aided sick Indians
#21 | San Francisco Solano de Sonoma | 363 3rd St. West, Sonoma | 1823, last mission