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.
List of California Missions
Click for more information on each mission:
- Mission San Diego de Alcalá, San Diego (1769)
- Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, Carmel (1770)
- Mission San Antonio de Padua, Jolon (1771)
- Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, San Gabriel (1771)
- Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, San Luis Obispo (1772)
- Mission San Francisco de Asís (Mission Dolores), San Francisco (1776)
- Mission San Juan Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano (1776)
- Mission Santa Clara de Asís, Santa Clara (1777)
- Mission San Buenaventura, Ventura (1782)
- Mission Santa Bárbara, Santa Barbara (1786)
- Mission La Purísima Concepción, Lompoc (1787)
- Mission Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz (1791)
- Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, Soledad (1791)
- Mission San José, Fremont (1797)
- Mission San Juan Bautista, San Juan Bautista (1797)
- Mission San Miguel Arcángel, San Miguel (1797)
- Mission San Fernando Rey de España, Mission Hills (1797)
- Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, Oceanside (1798)
- Mission Santa Inés, Solvang (1804)
- Mission San Rafael Arcángel, San Rafael (1817)
- Mission San Francisco Solano, Sonoma (1823)