Mission San Diego de Alcalá was founded July 16th 1769 by Father Junípero Serra. It was named for Didacus of Alcalá. This is the first mission of the twenty-one Spanish missions that today line the state of California. The Spanish expedition …
Mission San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo, also known as Carmel Mission, was founded June 3, 1770 by Father Junípero Serra at the Royal Presidio of Monterey Bay. The mission was named for Saint Charles Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan, Italy, in …
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 valley, the Padres hung a bell on the branches of …
The site originally 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 Franciscans missionaries charged by Fr. Serra with …
Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa was founded on September 1, 1772 by Father Junípero Serra on a site located halfway between Santa Barbara and Monterey. A cross was erected near San Luis Obispo Creek and Father Serra celebrated the first mass at …
The first mass at Mission San Francisco de Asís was celebrated by Padre Francisco Palóu in a tule arbor on June 29th, 1776, right after the Spanish expedition reached the shores of San Francisco. Nonetheless, Mission San Francisco de Asís was …
Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded on October 30, 1775 to interrupt the long journey between Mission San Diego de Alcalá and Mission San Gabriel Arcángel. Mission San Juan Capistrano was originally established by Father Fermin Lasuén but just eight days after its foundation rumors that …