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You are here: Home / Mission Profiles

Mission Profiles

Name: Mission San Diego de Alcalá

Year founded: 1769

Patron saint: St. Didacus of Alcalá

Founder: Fr. Junípero Serra

Native peoples: Kumeyaay [Ipai/Tipai] (Diegueño)

Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos and habas (broad beans).

Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish


Name: Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo

Year founded: 1770

Patron saint: St. Charles Borromeo

Founder: Fr. Junípero Serra

Native peoples: Esselen, Rumsen (Costanoan)

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

Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish


Name: Mission 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


Name: Mission San Gabriel

Year founded: 1771

Patron saint: The Archangel St. Gabriel

Founder: Fr. Junípero Serra

Native peoples: Tongva (Gabrielino)

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

Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish


Name: Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa

Year founded: 1772

Patron saint: Saint Louis of Toulouse

Founder: Fr. Junípero Serra

Native peoples: Chumash (Obispeño)

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

Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish


Name: Mission San Francisco de Asís (Mission Dolores)

Year founded: 1776

Patron saint: St. Francis of Assisi

Founder: Fr. Junípero Serra

Native peoples: Costanoan (Ohlone), Coast Miwok, southern Pomo, Wappo, perhaps Winton, Maidu, Miwok, Yokuts

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

Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish


Name: Mission San Juan Capistrano

Year founded: 1776

Patron saint: St. John of Capistrano

Founder: Fr. Junípero Serra

Native peoples: Acjachemen (Juaneño)

Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos, habas (broadbeans).

Current Status: Mission buildings are on the grounds of a Catholic parish. There is a nearby Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park as well.


Name: Mission 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: Roman Catholic Parish


Name: Mission San Buenaventura

Year founded: 1782

Patron saint: St. Bonaventure

Founder: Fr. Junípero Serra

Native peoples: Chumash (Ventureño)

Goods produced:Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos and habas (broadbeans).

Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish


Name: Mission Santa Barbara

Year founded: 1786

Patron saint: St. Barbara

Founder: Fr. Fermín de Lasuén

Native peoples: Chumash (Barbareño, Canalino)

Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos and habas (broadbeans).

Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish


Name: 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 (Purisimeño)


Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish

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Name: Mission Santa Cruz

Year founded: 1791

Patron saint: Named for the Cross of Jesus (the Holy Cross)

Founder: Fr. Fermín de Lasuén

Native peoples: Costanoans and Yukuts

Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos and habas (broadbeans).

Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish and State Historic Park


Name: Mission 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


Name: Mission San José

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


Name: Mission San Juan Bautista

Year founded: 1797

Patron saint: St. John the Baptist

Founder: Fr. Fermín de Lasuén

Native peoples: Mutson, Yukuts (San Joaquin Valley)

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

Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish


Name: Mission 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


Name: 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 habas (broadbeans).

Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish


Name: 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 (Luiseño, Diegueño)

Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans.

Current Status: State Park


Name: Mission Santa Inés Virgen y Mártir

Year founded: 1804

Patron saint: St. Agnes

Founder: Fr. Estevan Tapis

Native peoples: Chumash (Ineseño)

Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos and habas (broadbeans).

Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish


Name: Mission San Rafael Arcángel

Year founded: 1817

Patron saint: The Archangel St. Raphael

Founders: Fathers Sarria, Abella, Duran and Taboada

Native peoples: Coast Miwok and Pomo

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

Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish


Name: Mission 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.

While you’re there: Take time to stroll through the town square of Sonoma.

Current Status: State Park

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

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