The California Frontier Project

  • About
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Teacher Membership
  • Podcast
  • Shop/Support
    • Books
    • T-shirts/mugs

All articles related to the Spanish Missions in California.

Indian Vaqueros in Alta California

By Damian Bacich

Vaqueros were the most important workers in the mission and rancho eras. And some of the first vaqueros were Native American. Learn more about these unique figures on the California frontier. What Does “Vaquero” Mean? The word vaquero is usually translated as “cowboy” in English, and literally means “someone in charge of cows.” It also […]

Filed Under: Daily Lives, Mexican Rule, Native Americans, Spanish Missions Tagged With: horses, Ranchos, soldados, Vaqueros

Indian Life at Mission Santa Cruz

By Damian Bacich

What was daily life like for Native Americans at Mission Santa Cruz? What did they eat? What jobs did they do? An introduction to life at Alta California’s 12th Spanish Mission. Where is Mission Santa Cruz Located? Mission Santa Cruz is located near the northern coast of Monterey Bay, on the west side of the […]

Filed Under: Native Americans, Primary Sources, Spanish Missions Tagged With: Fermín Francisco de Lasuén, Interrogatorio, mission santa cruz, Ohlone

The Levitating Cross at Monterey and the Beginnings of California

By Damian Bacich

The California frontier is full of reports of the marvelous or miraculous events that defy scientific explanation. Historian Skyler Reidy has been investigating curious stories of the mission era, and he helps us make sense of them. Skyler Reidy Skyler Reidy is a PhD candidate in the history department at the University of Southern California. […]

Filed Under: Podcast Episodes, Spanish Missions Tagged With: Crespí, Junipero Serra, Mission San Antonio de Padua, Monterey, Portolá

California Missions: 50 Interesting Facts

By Damian Bacich

The California missions are home to fascinating stories and interesting facts. The following is a list 50 things you might not know about the missions– but there are many more to discover. Pirate Raid In 1818, a French privateer named Hippolyte Bouchard (known in Spanish as Hipólito Bouchard), led a series of raids along the coast of Alta California. Bouchard […]

Filed Under: Franciscans, Hispanic Heritage, Resources, Spanish Missions Tagged With: Chumash, Gen. Mariano G. Vallejo, Hipólito Bouchard, Mission San Diego de Alcala, mission san fernando, Mission San Francisco Solano, Mission San Juan Bautista, mission san juan capistrano, Mission San Luis Obispo, Mission San Miguel, Mission Santa Clara, Pirates

Aztec Memories and the Florentine Codex: Interview with Ezekiel Stear (Part 1)

By Damian Bacich

The story of the Spanish missions in California has its roots in 16th century Mexico. There, Franciscan friars and their native partners sought to record the memories of Aztec elders before their culture was changed forever. The information they collected is contained in the Florentine Codex. Ezekiel Stear Dr. Ezekiel Stear is Assistant Professor of […]

Filed Under: Catholicism, Franciscans, Hispanic Heritage, Native Americans, Podcast Episodes, Spanish Missions Tagged With: Auburn University, Aztecs, Florentine Codex

Indian Life at Mission San Gabriel Arcángel

By Damian Bacich

What was daily life like for Native Americans at Mission San Gabriel Arcángel? What did they eat? What jobs did they do? An introduction to life at Alta California’s 4th Spanish Mission. Who Founded Mission San Gabriel? Mission San Gabriel Arcángel was the 4th mission established in Alta California. The mission was founded on September […]

Filed Under: California Indians, Daily Lives, Native Americans, Spanish Missions Tagged With: Gabrielino, Interrogatorio, Mission San Gabriel, Pedro Benito Cambón, Somera, Tongva

“Follow the Money”: Interview with Marie Christine Duggan (Part 2)

By Damian Bacich

In this second part of the interview we learn about what studying economic history can reveal about the past. In particular, we learn about California’s early connections to the Far East, and how competition over the fur trade created some unusual rivalries and alliances. Highlights of Part 2: Franciscan views of money and morality. The […]

Filed Under: Early Land and Sea Routes, Native Americans, Podcast Episodes, Resources, Soldiers and Presidios, Spain, Spanish Exploration and Colonization, Spanish Missions Tagged With: Chumash, José de la Guerra y Noriega, Manila Galleon, Mission Dolores, Mission San Luis Obispo, Otter Trade, Philipines

Missions and Misconceptions: Interview with Marie Christine Duggan (Part 1)

By Damian Bacich

The story of the Spanish missions in California isn’t always what it seems. By delving into Mexico’s National Archives, Dr. Marie Christine Duggan uncovered facts that provide a unique inside view of mission life. From murder trials to Indian militias, we talk about some of the lesser-known aspects of California mission history. Marie Christine Duggan […]

Filed Under: California Indians, Daily Lives, Franciscans, Native Americans, Podcast Episodes, Soldiers and Presidios, Spanish Missions Tagged With: Blacksmiths, Chumash, Militias, Vaqueros

9 Ways the Missions Impacted California

By Damian Bacich

How did the Missions Affect California? Much of the culture of California has its roots in the history of the Spanish missions. And although the missions were only fully active for about 60 years, their presence had a major impact on many areas of life in California. In this article we’ll talk about some of […]

Filed Under: 4th Grade, Hispanic Heritage, Spanish Missions Tagged With: agriculture, art, cities, ethnography, irrigation, libraries, Mission San Carlos Borromeo, Music, place names, San Luis Obispo, tourism, trade, wine

Native American Life at Mission San Diego de Alcalá

By Damian Bacich

What was daily life like for Native Americans at Mission San Diego de Alcalá? What did they eat? What jobs did they do? An introduction to life at Alta California’s 1st Spanish Mission. Who Founded Mission San Diego de Alcalá and When Was It Founded? Mission San Diego de Alcalá was founded by Fr. Junípero […]

Filed Under: Hispanic Heritage, Native Americans, Spanish Missions

Why Did Native Americans Come to the California Missions?

By Damian Bacich

Why Did Native Americans Come to the Missions?

Native Americans came to the California missions for a variety of reasons. Some of these were: protection from their enemies, access to stable food sources, attraction to Spanish culture and religion, fear of Spanish weapons and a desire to stay together with their clans and kin. Were Native Americans Forced to Enter the California Missions? […]

Filed Under: California Indians, Indians featured, Native Americans, Resources, Spanish Missions Tagged With: Native Americans, spanish missions

How Did the California Missions End?

By Damian Bacich

Mission Secularization

The California missions ended after Mexico became independent of Spain. The newly independent Mexican government eventually passed laws that called for an end to the mission system through a process called “secularization.”  Secularization: The end of the Spanish missions in California To visit the California missions today is an impressive experience. The church buildings, gardens […]

Filed Under: Mexican Rule, Spanish Missions Tagged With: El Camino Real, Mission San Diego de Alcala, Mission Santa Bárbara, Secularization

Mission San Francisco Solano Facts

By Damian Bacich

Mission San Francisco Solano as it appears today.

Filed Under: Resources, Spanish Missions

Mission San Rafael Arcángel: The Hospital That Became a Mission

By Damian Bacich

Originally built as a hospital outpost for Mission Dolores, Mission San Rafael Arcángel grew to become a successful mission in its own right. Nearby China Camp State Park offers a complementary glimpse into California’s unique history.  

Filed Under: Field Trips, Spanish Missions Tagged With: Chief Marin, China Camp, Coast Miwok, Gen. Mariano G. Vallejo, Juan Amorós, Luis Gil y Taboada, Mission San Francisco de Asís, Mission San Rafael

Fr. José Altimira and Mission San Francisco Solano

By Damian Bacich

Fr. José Altimira was a Spanish Franciscan priest who founded Mission San Francisco Solano, the last — and most controversial —  of the Alta California missions.

Filed Under: Franciscans, Spanish Missions Tagged With: Coast Miwok, Fr. José Altimira, Mission San Francisco Solano, Sonoma, Wappo

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:

Filed Under: Resources, Spanish Missions

Choosing a Mission Site: San Miguel Arcángel

By Damian Bacich

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? When was Mission San Miguel Founded? Mission San Miguel Arcángel was founded on July 25, 1797 by Fr. Fermín de Lasuén and Fr. Buenaventura Sitjar.  Important Steps Before establishing a Spanish mission in […]

Filed Under: Franciscans, Spanish Missions Tagged With: Antonio de la Concepción Horra, Buenaventura Sitjar, Diego Borica, Fermín Francisco de Lasuén, Mission San Miguel, Primary Sources, Salinan

Indian Life at the California Missions — Santa Inés

By Damian Bacich

How did native people live at Mission Santa Inés? What was daily life like? What languages did they speak? What foods did they eat? How did they dress?

Filed Under: California Indians, Daily Lives, Primary Sources, Spanish Missions Tagged With: California Indians (Standard 1), Chumash, Daily Lives (Standard 5), Mission Santa Inés, Santa Inés, Santa Ynez

Native American Life at the California Missions: An Overview

By Damian Bacich

Indian Life at the California Missions

How did native people live at the Spanish missions in Alta California? What were their jobs? What did they eat? An in-depth look at Native American life in the California missions.

Filed Under: 4th Grade, California Indians, Daily Lives, Indians featured, Spanish Missions Tagged With: California Indians (Standard 1), Daily Lives (Standard 5), Native American Jobs

Podcast Episode 001 — How to Visit All 21 California Missions with Maggie Espinosa

By Damian Bacich

A conversation with writer Maggie Espinosa, on her quest to visit all 21 California missions, from San Diego to Sonoma.

Filed Under: Podcast Episodes, Spanish Missions

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »

I’m Dr. Damian Bacich, and I started the California Frontier Project. Learn more about me and the project here.

Teaching Materials for the Whole Year

Alta California Tees and More

Alta California T-shirt

Copyright © 2023 · Damian Bacich