Between 1769 and 1823 Spanish missionaries founded 21 missions up and down the coast of Alta California (today’s state of California). These missions were meant to continue the chain of missions extending north from the southern tip of Baja California.
- Each mission was named after a Catholic saint who served as its patron.
- Franciscan priests often chose to name based on the day the mission site was established and its relationship to the Church calendar, or because of some special significance the saint held in the life of the missionary or those who accompanied him.
- In addition to missions, there were a number of asistencias in Upper California, Indian settlements that were affiliated with a nearby mission, but without the presence of a resident priest.
Below is a list of the 21 Alta California missions Northern California and Southern California, and a brief profile of each one.
Profiles are listed in chronological order from the date of their founding. You will also find the names of their founders, the native peoples who lived at each mission, the agricultural goods produced there and its current status. Enjoy!
Northern California (North to South)
Mission San Francisco Solano
Location: Sonoma, California
Year founded: 1823
Patron saint: St. Francis Solano.
Founder: Fr. José Altamira.
Native peoples: Coast Miwok, Pomo, Suisunes, Wappo and Patwin.
Goods produced: Some grain, also grapes and other fruit. This mission was never a large agricultural producer.
Current status: State historic park
Website: www.sonomaparks.org/pub/place/1
Historical landmark: California Historical Landmark no. 3
Mission San Rafael Arcángel
Location: San Rafael, California
Year founded: 1817
Patron saint: The Archangel St. Raphael.
Founders: Fathers Sarriá, Abella, Durán and Taboada.
Native peoples: Coast Miwok, Wappo and Pomo.
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos, pears, grapes.
Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish.
Website: www.saintraphael.com
Historical landmark: California Historical Landmark no. 327
Mission San Francisco de Asís (Mission Dolores)
Location: San Francisco, California
Year founded: 1776
Patron saint: St. Francis of Assisi.
Founder: Fr. Junípero Serra.
Native peoples: Ohlone, Coast Miwok, southern Pomo, Wappo, perhaps Winton, Maidu, Miwok, Yokuts.
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas.
Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish.
Website: www.missiondolores.org
Historical landmark: California Historical Landmark no. 327
Mission San José
Location: Fremont, California
Year founded: 1797
Patron saint: St. Joseph.
Founder: Fr. Fermín de Lasuén.
Native peoples: Primarily Ohlone, though also Miwok, Patwin and Yokuts.
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, vegetables, olive oil, fruit and produce.
Current Status: Roman Catholic parish.
Website: www.missionsanjose.org
Historical landmark: California Historical Landmark no. 334
Mission Santa Clara de Asís
Location: Santa Clara, California
Year founded: 1777
Patron saint: St. Clare of Assisi.
Founder: Fr. Junípero Serra.
Native peoples: Ohlone (Costanoan), Yokuts (from the Central Valley).
Goods produced: Wheat, other crops.
Current Status: University chapel.
Website: www.scu.edu/missionchurch
Historical landmark: California Historical Landmark no. 338
Mission San Juan Bautista
Location: San Juan Bautista, California
Year founded: 1797
Patron saint: St. John the Baptist.
Founder: Fr. Fermín de Lasuén.
Native peoples: Mutsun, also Yokuts from the San Joaquin Valley.
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas.
Current Status: Roman Catholic parish.
Website: www.oldmissionsjb.org
Historical landmark: California Historical Landmark no. 195; National Historical Landmark
Mission Santa Cruz
Location: Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Location: Santa Cruz, California
Year founded: 1791
Patron saint: Named for the Cross of Jesus (the Holy Cross).
Founder: Fr. Fermín de Lasuén.
Native peoples: Ohlone and Yokuts.
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos and fava beans.
Current Status: Replicas of the mission buildings are on the grounds of a Catholic parish. There is a nearby Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park as well.
Websites: (Parish) www.holycrosssantacruz.com/mission-santa-cruz and (Park) www.parks.ca.gov
Historical landmark: California Historical Landmark no. 342
Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo
Location: Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Year founded: 1770
Patron saint: St. Charles Borromeo.
Founder: Fr. Junípero Serra.
Native peoples: Esselen, Rumsen — also known as Costanoan.
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, vegetables.
Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish.
Website: www.carmelmission.org
Historical landmark: California Historical Landmark no. 135, National Historical Landmark
Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad
Location: Soledad, California
Year founded: 1791
Patron saint: Our Lady of Solitude.
Founder: Fr. Fermín de Lasuén.
Native peoples: Recruits included Chalon, Esselen, Yokuts and Salinan.
Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish.
Website: www.missionsoledad.com
Historical landmark: California Historical Landmark no. 233
Mission San Antonio de Padua
Location: Jolon, California
Year founded: 1771
Patron saint: St. Anthony of Padua.
Founder: Fr. Junípero Serra.
Native peoples: Salinan (local), as well as Yokuts from the San Joaquin Valley.
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas.
Current Status: Roman Catholic parish.
Website: http://missionsanantonio.net
Historical landmark: California Historical Landmark no. 232.
Mission San Miguel Arcángel
Location: San Miguel, California
Year founded: 1797
Patron saint: The Archangel St. Michael.
Founder: Fr. Fermín de Lasuén.
Native peoples: Salinan (local), as well as Yokuts from the San Joaquin Valley.
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas.
Current Status: Roman Catholic parish.
Website: www.missionsanmiguel.org/
Historical landmark: Landmark no. 326; National Historical Landmark
Southern California (North to South)
Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
![Mission San Luis Obispo. By Rennett Stowe (Flickr: Mission San Luis Obispo) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.](https://i0.wp.com/www.californiafrontier.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Mission_San_Luis_Obispo-1024x683.jpg?resize=600%2C400 "Mission San Luis Obispo. By Rennett Stowe (Flickr: Mission San Luis Obispo) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.")
Year founded: 1772
Patron saint: Saint Louis of Toulouse.
Founder: Fr. Junípero Serra.
Native peoples: Chumash — also known as Obispeño
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils.
Current Status: Roman Catholic parish.
Website: www.missionsanluisobispo.org
Historical landmark: California Historical Landmark no. 325
Mission La Purísima Concepción
Year founded: 1787
Patron saint: The Virgin Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception.
Founder: Fr. Fermín de Lasuén.
Native peoples: Chumash — also known as Purisimeño.
Current Status: State historic park.
Website: www.lapurisimamission.org
Historical landmark: California Historical Landmark no. 928 (original site); California Historical Landmark no. 340; National Historical Landmark
Mission Santa Inés Virgen y Mártir
Year founded: 1804
Patron saint: St. Agnes.
Founder: Fr. Estevan Tapis.
Native peoples: Chumash — also known as Ineseño.
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos and favas.
Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish.
Website: www.missionsantaines.org/
Historical landmark: California Historical Landmark no. 305; National Historical Landmark
Mission Santa Bárbara
Year founded: 1786
Patron saint: St. Barbara.
Founder: Fr. Fermín de Lasuén.
Native peoples: Chumash — also known as Barbareño, Canalino.
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos and fava beans.
Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish.
Website:www.santabarbaramission.org
Historical landmark: California Historical Landmark no. 309; National Historical Landmark
Mission San Buenaventura
Year founded: 1782
Patron saint: St. Bonaventure.
Founder: Fr. Junípero Serra.
Native peoples: Chumash — also known as Ventureño
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos and fava beans.
Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish.
Website: www.sanbuenaventuramission.org
Historical landmark: California Historical Landmark no. 309
Mission San Fernando Rey de España
Year founded: 1797
Patron saint: St. Ferdinand, King of Spain.
Founder: Fr. Fermín de Lasuén.
Native peoples: Tataviem, Tongva (Fernandeño, Gabrielino).
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos and fava beans.
Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish
Website: www.archivalcenter.org/services-mission
Historical landmark: California Historical Landmark no. 157
Mission San Gabriel Arcángel
![Mission San Gabriel Arcangel. By Enrique López-Tamayo Biosca (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eltb/7377400356) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.](https://i0.wp.com/www.californiafrontier.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Mission_San_Gabriel_Arcángel_02.jpg?resize=600%2C450 "Mission San Gabriel Arcangel. By Enrique López-Tamayo Biosca (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eltb/7377400356) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.")
Year founded: 1771
Patron saint: The Archangel St. Gabriel.
Founder: Fr. Junípero Serra, Fr. Pedro Cambón.
Native peoples: Tongva — also known as Gabrielino.
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos.
Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish.
Website: www.sangabrielmissionchurch.org
Historical landmark: California Historical Landmark no. 158
Mission San Juan Capistrano
![Mission San Juan Capistrano. By Bernard Gagnon (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://i0.wp.com/www.californiafrontier.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/640px-Mission_San_Juan_Capistrano_02.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1 "By Bernard Gagnon (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons")
Year founded: 1776
Patron saint: St. John of Capistrano.
Founder: Fr. Junípero Serra.
Native peoples: Acjachemem — also known as Juaneño.
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos, fava beans.
Current Status: Mission buildings are on the grounds of a Catholic parish.
Website: www.missionsjc.com
Historical landmark: California Historical Landmark no. 200
Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
Year founded: 1798
Patron saint: St. Louis, King of France.
Founder: Fr. Fermín de Lasuén.
Native peoples: Kumeyaay, Quechnajuichom also known as Diegueño, Luiseño.
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans.
Current Status: Roman Catholic parish and retreat center.
Website: www.sanluisrey.org
Historical landmark: California Historical Landmark no. 239; National Historical Landmark
Mission San Diego de Alcalá
Year founded: 1769
Patron saint: St. Didacus of Alcalá
Founder: Fr. Junípero Serra
Native peoples: Kumeyaay (Ipai/Tipai) — also known as Diegueño.
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos and fava beans.
Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish.
Website: www.missionsandiego.org
Historical landmark:
California Historical Landmark No. 242; National Historical Landmark.
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I love to visit retreat centers and now it has become an integral part of my life.
Dear Emily,
Many of the missions do function as retreat centers. It always reminds me how the missions are living communities and not just museums — although museums are good things, too!