Mission San Diego de Alcalá was founded on July 16, 1769, by Father Junípero Serra. Father Serra named the Mission for Didacus of Alcalá. San Diego de Alcalá is the first in the chain of twenty-one Spanish missions established along …
Mission San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo, also known as Carmel Mission, was founded on June 3, 1770, by Father Junípero Serra at the Royal Presidio of Monterey Bay. Junípero Serra named the Mission for Saint Charles Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan, …
In the summer of 1771, a little group of Franciscan Missionaries headed by Padres Junípero Serra, Miguel Píeras, and Buenaventura Sitjar entered the Valley of the Oaks. In this secluded canyon, the Padres hung a bell on the branches of …
The site chosen for Mission San Gabriel Arcángel was well inland from the ocean on the Rio de los Temblores, now called River Santa Ana. However, once at the spot, the two Franciscan Missionaries charged by Father Serra with the …
Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa was founded on September 1, 1772, by Father Junípero Serra on a site halfway between Santa Barbara and Monterey. Father Serra erected a cross near San Luis Obispo Creek and celebrated the first mass. …
The first mass at Mission San Francisco de Asís was celebrated by Padre Francisco Palóu in a tule arbor on June 29, 1776, right after the Spanish expedition led by the explorer José Joaquín Moraga reached the shores of San …
Mission San Juan Capistrano has the peculiarity of having been founded twice. With its establishment, the Fathers intended to interrupt the long journey between Mission San Diego de Alcalá and Mission San Gabriel Arcángel. On October 30, 1775, Father Fermín …