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:
- Each mission was named after a Catholic saint who served as its patron.
- Franciscan priests often chose to name based on the day the mission site was established and its relationship to the Church calendar, or because of some special significance the saint held in the life of the missionary or those who accompanied him.
- In addition to missions, there were a number of asistencias in Upper California, Indian settlements that were affiliated with a nearby mission, but without the presence of a resident priest.
Below is a list of the 21 Alta California missions Northern California and Southern California, with links to a brief profile of each one.
Profiles are listed in chronological order from the date of their founding. You will also find the names of their founders, the native peoples who lived at each mission, the agricultural goods produced there and its current status. Enjoy!
Contents
- 1 San Francisco Solano
- 2 Mission San Rafael Arcángel
- 3 Mission San Francisco de Asís (Mission Dolores)
- 4 Mission San José
- 5 Mission Santa Clara de Asís
- 6 Mission San Juan Bautista
- 7 Mission Santa Cruz
- 8 Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo
- 9 Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad
- 10 Mission San Antonio de Padua
- 11 Mission San Miguel Arcángel
- 12 Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
- 13 Mission La Purísima Concepción
- 14 Mission Santa Inés
- 15 Mission Santa Bárbara
- 16 Mission San Buenaventura
- 17 Mission San Fernando Rey de España
- 18 Mission San Gabriel Arcángel
- 19 Mission San Juan Capistrano
- 20 Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
- 21 Mission San Diego de Alcalá
San Francisco Solano
Mission Facts: 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.
Current Status: State historic park
Website: www.sonomaparks.org/pub/place/1
Mission San Rafael Arcángel
Mission Facts: San Rafael Arcángel
Year founded: 1817
Patron saint: The Archangel St. Raphael.
Founders: Fathers Sarriá, Abella, Durán and Taboada.
Native peoples: Coast Miwok and Pomo.
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos.
Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish.
Website: www.saintraphael.com
Mission San Francisco de Asís (Mission Dolores)
Mission Facts: San Francisco de Asís
Year founded: 1776
Patron saint: St. Francis of Assisi.
Founder: Fr. Junípero Serra.
Native peoples: Ohlone, Coast Miwok, southern Pomo, Wappo, perhaps Wintun, Maidu, Miwok, Yokuts.
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas.
Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish.
Website: www.missiondolores.org
Mission San José
Mission Facts: San José
Year founded: 1797
Patron saint: St. Joseph.
Founder: Fr. Fermín de Lasuén.
Native peoples: Primarily Ohlone, also Miwok, Patwin and Yokuts.
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, vegetables, olive oil, fruit and produce.
Current Status: Roman Catholic parish.
Website: www.missionsanjose.org
Mission Santa Clara de Asís
Mission Facts: 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: University chapel.
Website: www.scu.edu/missionchurch
Mission San Juan Bautista
Mission Facts: San Juan Bautista
Year founded: 1797
Patron saint: St. John the Baptist.
Founder: Fr. Fermín de Lasuén.
Native peoples: Mutsun, also Yokuts from the San Joaquin Valley.
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas.
Current Status: Roman Catholic parish.
Website: www.oldmissionsjb.org
Mission Santa Cruz
Mission Facts: Santa Cruz
Year founded: 1791
Patron saint: Named for the Cross of Jesus (the Holy Cross).
Founder: Fr. Fermín de Lasuén.
Native peoples: Ohlone and Yokuts.
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos and fava beans.
Current Status: Replicas of the mission are on the grounds of a Catholic parish. There is a nearby Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park as well.
Websites: (Parish) www.holycrosssantacruz.com/mission-santa-cruz and (Park) www.parks.ca.gov
Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo
Mission Facts: San Carlos Borromeo
Year founded: 1770
Patron saint: St. Charles Borromeo.
Founder: Fr. Junípero Serra.
Native peoples: Esselen, Rumsen — also known as Costanoan.
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, vegetables.
Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish.
Website: www.carmelmission.org
Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad
Mission Facts: 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.
Website: www.missionsoledad.com
Mission San Antonio de Padua
Mission Facts: 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.
Website: http://missionsanantonio.net
Mission San Miguel Arcángel
Mission Facts: 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.
Website: www.missionsanmiguel.org/
Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
Mission Facts: San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
Year founded: 1772
Patron saint: Saint Louis of Toulouse.
Founder: Fr. Junípero Serra.
Native peoples: Chumash — also known as Obispeño
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils.
Current Status: Roman Catholic parish.
Website: www.missionsanluisobispo.org
Mission La Purísima Concepción
Mission Facts: 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 — also known as Purisimeño.
Current Status: State historic park.
Website: www.lapurisimamission.org
Mission Santa Inés
Mission Facts: Santa Inés
Year founded: 1804
Patron saint: St. Agnes.
Founder: Fr. Estevan Tapis.
Native peoples: Chumash — also known as Ineseño.
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos and favas.
Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish.
Website: www.missionsantaines.org/
Mission Santa Bárbara
Mission Facts: Santa Bárbara
Year founded: 1786
Patron saint: St. Barbara.
Founder: Fr. Fermín de Lasuén.
Native peoples: Chumash — also known as Barbareño, Canalino.
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos and fava beans.
Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish.
Website: www.santabarbaramission.org
Mission Facts: San Buenaventura
Year founded: 1782
Patron saint: St. Bonaventure.
Founder: Fr. Junípero Serra.
Native peoples: Chumash — also known as Ventureño
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos and fava beans.
Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish.
Website: www.sanbuenaventuramission.org
Mission San Fernando Rey de España
Mission Facts: San Fernando
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 fava beans.
Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish
Website: www.archivalcenter.org/services-mission
Mission San Gabriel Arcángel
Mission Facts: San Gabriel
Year founded: 1771
Patron saint: The Archangel St. Gabriel.
Founder: Fr. Junípero Serra, Fr. Pedro Cambón.
Native peoples: Tongva — also known as Gabrielino.
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos.
Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish.
Website: www.sangabrielmissionchurch.org
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Mission Facts: San Juan Capistrano
Year founded: 1776
Patron saint: St. John of Capistrano.
Founder: Fr. Junípero Serra.
Native peoples: Acjachemem — also known as Juaneño.
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos, fava beans.
Current Status: Mission buildings are on the grounds of a Catholic parish.
Website: www.missionsjc.com
Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
Mission Facts: San Luis Rey
Year founded: 1798
Patron saint: St. Louis, King of France.
Founder: Fr. Fermín de Lasuén.
Native peoples: Kumeyaay, Quechnajuichom also known as Diegueño, Luiseño.
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans.
Current Status: Roman Catholic parish and retreat center.
Website: www.sanluisrey.org
Mission San Diego de Alcalá
Mission Facts: San Diego
Year founded: 1769
Patron saint: St. Didacus of Alcalá
Founder: Fr. Junípero Serra
Native peoples: Kumeyaay (Ipai/Tipai — also known as Diegueño.
Goods produced: Wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos and fava beans.
Current Status: Roman Catholic Parish.
Website: www.missionsandiego.org
A group of scholars from Mexico wants to travel to California to visit/know all of most of the Missions from San Diego to San Francisco. What would be your advise?
Hello José,
That is very interesting. In order to advise you, I would need more details: how many scholars are there, how days do they have available, and what are their goals? Maybe you could email me directly at the address listed here on the website.