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You are here: Home / Resources / California Mission Facts

California Mission Facts

By Damian Bacich

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. Below is a list of mission facts:

  • 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, with links to 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!

Contents

  • 1 San Francisco Solano
    • 1.1 Mission Facts: San Francisco Solano
  • 2 Mission San Rafael Arcángel
    • 2.1 Mission Facts: San Rafael Arcángel
  • 3 Mission San Francisco de Asís (Mission Dolores)
    • 3.1 Mission Facts: San Francisco de Asís
  • 4 Mission San José
    • 4.1 Mission Facts: San José
  • 5 Mission Santa Clara de Asís
    • 5.1 Mission Facts: Santa Clara de Asís
  • 6 Mission San Juan Bautista
    • 6.1 Mission Facts: San Juan Bautista
  • 7 Mission Santa Cruz
    • 7.1 Mission Facts: Santa Cruz
  • 8 Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo
    • 8.1 Mission Facts: San Carlos Borromeo
  • 9 Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad
    • 9.1 Mission Facts: Nuestra Señora de la Soledad
  • 10 Mission San Antonio de Padua
    • 10.1 Mission Facts: San Antonio de Padua
  • 11 Mission San Miguel Arcángel
    • 11.1 Mission Facts: San Miguel Arcángel
  • 12 Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
    • 12.1 Mission Facts: San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
  • 13 Mission La Purísima Concepción
    • 13.1 Mission Facts: La Purísima Concepción
  • 14 Mission Santa Inés
    • 14.1 Mission Facts: Santa Inés
  • 15 Mission Santa Bárbara
    • 15.1 Mission Facts: Santa Bárbara
  • 16 Mission San Buenaventura
    • 16.1 Mission Facts: San Buenaventura
  • 17 Mission San Fernando Rey de España
    • 17.1 Mission Facts: San Fernando
  • 18 Mission San Gabriel Arcángel
    • 18.1 Mission Facts: San Gabriel
  • 19 Mission San Juan Capistrano
    • 19.1 Mission Facts: San Juan Capistrano
  • 20 Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
    • 20.1 Mission Facts: San Luis Rey
  • 21 Mission San Diego de Alcalá
    • 21.1 Mission Facts: San Diego

San Francisco Solano

Mission San Francisco Solano. Damian Bacich/CaliforniaFrontier.net
Mission San Francisco Solano. Damian Bacich/CaliforniaFrontier.net

Mission Facts: San Francisco Solano

Year founded: 1823

Patron saint: St. Francis Solano.

Founder: Fr. José Altimira.

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


Mission San Rafael Arcángel

Mission Facts: San Rafael Arcángel

Year founded: 1817

Patron saint: The Archangel St. Raphael.

Founders: Fathers Sarriá, Abella, Durán and Taboada.

Native peoples: Coast Miwok and Pomo.

Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos.

Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish.

Website: www.saintraphael.com


Mission San Francisco de Asís (Mission Dolores)

Mission Facts: San Francisco de Asís

Year founded: 1776

Patron saint: St. Francis of Assisi.

Founder: Fr. Junípero Serra.

Native peoples: Ohlone, Coast Miwok, southern Pomo, Wappo, perhaps Wintun, Maidu, Miwok, Yokuts.

Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas.

Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish.

Website: www.missiondolores.org


Mission San José

Mission Facts: San José

Year founded: 1797

Patron saint: St. Joseph.

Founder: Fr. Fermín de Lasuén.

Native peoples: Primarily Ohlone, 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


Mission Santa Clara de Asís

Mission Facts: Santa Clara de Asís

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


Mission San Juan Bautista

Mission San Juan Bautista

Mission Facts: San Juan Bautista

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


Mission Santa Cruz

Mission Santa Cruz

Mission Facts: Santa Cruz

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 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


Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo

Mission San Carlos Borromeo

Mission Facts: San Carlos Borromeo

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


Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad

Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad

Mission Facts: Nuestra Señora de la Soledad

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


Mission San Antonio de Padua

Mission Facts: San Antonio de Padua

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


Mission San Miguel Arcángel

Mission Facts: San Miguel Arcángel

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/


Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa

Mission San Luis Obispo

Mission Facts: San Luis Obispo de Tolosa

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


Mission La Purísima Concepción

Mission La Purísima Concepción

Mission Facts: 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


Mission Santa Inés

Mission Santa Inés

Mission Facts: Santa Inés

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/


Mission Santa Bárbara

Mission Santa Barbara

Mission Facts: 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


Mission San Buenaventura

By The original uploader was Geographer at English Wikipedia - Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by IngerAlHaosului using CommonsHelper., CC BY 1.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9284688

Mission Facts: 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


Mission San Fernando Rey de España

Mission San Fernando Rey de España

Mission Facts: San Fernando

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


Mission San Gabriel Arcángel

By Robert A. Estremo - en-wkipedia, en:User:Lordkinbote, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=860507

Mission Facts: San Gabriel

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


Mission San Juan Capistrano

The original uploader was Lordkinbote at English Wikipedia
Mission San Juan Capistrano. By Bernard Gagnon – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

Mission Facts: San Juan Capistrano

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


Mission San Luis Rey de Francia

Mission Facts: San Luis Rey

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


Mission San Diego de Alcalá

Mission San Diego de Alcalá

Mission Facts: San Diego

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

Filed Under: Resources, Spanish Missions

About Damian Bacich

Damian Bacich, Ph.D. writes about California and the West. He is also a professor, translator and historical researcher. You can learn more about Damian here.

Comments

  1. Jose Ramirez says

    June 6, 2018 at 5:42 pm

    A group of scholars from Mexico wants to travel to California to visit/know all of most of the Missions from San Diego to San Francisco. What would be your advise?

    • Damian Bacich says

      June 7, 2018 at 1:46 pm

      Hello José,
      That is very interesting. In order to advise you, I would need more details: how many scholars are there, how days do they have available, and what are their goals? Maybe you could email me directly at the address listed here on the website.

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