Missions
Articles related to the Spanish missions in California.
-
Mission San Francisco Solano: 10 Interesting Facts
2023 marked the 200th anniversary of the founding of Mission San Francisco Solano. Nestled in the Valley of the Moon, in the…
-
Native Vaqueros in Alta California
Vaqueros were the most important workers in the mission and rancho eras. And some of the first vaqueros were Native American. Learn…
-
Indian Life at Mission Santa Cruz
What was daily life like for Native Americans at Mission Santa Cruz? What did they eat? What jobs did they do? An…
-
California Missions: 50 Interesting Facts
The California missions are home to fascinating stories and interesting facts. The following is a list 50 things you might not know…
-
Indian Life at Mission San Gabriel Arcángel
What was daily life like for Native Americans at Mission San Gabriel Arcángel? What did they eat? What jobs did they do?…
-
9 Ways the Missions Impacted California
How did the Missions Affect California? Much of the culture of California has its roots in the history of the Spanish missions.…
-
Native American Life at Mission San Diego de Alcalá
What was daily life like for Native Americans at Mission San Diego de Alcalá? What did they eat? What jobs did they…
-
Why Did Native Americans Come to the California Missions?
Native Americans came to the California missions for a variety of reasons. Some of these were: protection from their enemies, access to…
-
How Did the California Missions End?
The California missions ended after Mexico became independent of Spain. The newly independent Mexican government eventually passed laws that called for an…
-
Mission San Francisco Solano Facts
-
Mission San Rafael Arcángel: The Hospital That Became a Mission
Originally built as a hospital outpost for Mission Dolores, Mission San Rafael Arcángel grew to become a successful mission in its own…
-
Fr. José Altimira and Mission San Francisco Solano
Fr. José Altimira was a Spanish Franciscan priest who founded Mission San Francisco Solano, the last — and most controversial — of…
-
California Mission Facts
Between 1769 and 1823 Spanish missionaries founded 21 missions up and down the coast of Alta California (today’s state of California). These…
-
Choosing a Mission Site: San Miguel Arcángel
How was a mission site chosen? What factors went into the location of a mission? Who decided where to build a mission?…
-
Indian Life at the California Missions — Santa Inés
How did native people live at Mission Santa Inés? What was daily life like? What languages did they speak? What foods did…
-
Native American Life at the California Missions: An Overview
How did native people live at the Spanish missions in Alta California? What were their jobs? What did they eat? An in-depth…
-
How to Visit All 21 California Missions with Maggie Espinosa
A conversation with writer Maggie Espinosa, on her quest to visit all 21 California missions, from San Diego to Sonoma.
-
California Mission Founders: Names, Dates and Bios
People often ask who founded the Spanish missions in California. And while Fr. Junípero Serra and Fr. Fermín Francisco de Lasuén are…
-
A Trip to San Juan Bautista on the Winter Solstice (Video)
https://youtu.be/P6vj46xdq8Y&rel=0 The winter solstice illuminations are a fascinating and little-known aspect of the California missions. This is the story of my trip to…
-
What Were the Spanish Missions in California?
What were the Spanish missions in California? How did they begin? The Spanish missions in California were communities of indigenous people (Indians) established by Franciscan…
