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Interactive California Missions Map
This map of the Alta California missions displays the 21 missions that Franciscan missionaries founded between 1769 and 1823. Each mission was established near a Native American settlement in an area that was known to provide water and land suitable for farming and ranching. Each mission was also located within the protective zone of one of the four military presidios along the coastline. Over time this chain grew to include 21 missions, from San Diego to Sonoma. powered by Proxi List of California Missions Click for more information on each mission:
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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 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? Many people assume Indian people entered the California missions because they were forced to. There were times that Native Americans were forced to return to the missions after they joined. But both Spanish law and Catholic Church law made it clear that Native Americans were not to be forced to enter the missions against their…
