The Spanish Missions of California
Beginning in what is now modern-day Mexico, the Franciscans founded a string of missions that stretched north along the California coast, from Mexico and finally ending up in San Francisco.
The locations were designed to be only one day’s ride by horseback between each mission, thereby assuring that there would be a safe place to stay each night. The string of missions gradually expanded until completion of the last mission in 1823. During that time they became an important source of protection, education and conversions. The first of these missions was Mission San Diego de Alcala, founded in 1769.
Visit our page describing Mission San Diego de Alcala.
Visit the official website of Mission San Buenaventura a Basilica.
Visit the website of Mission San Juan Capistrano (probably the most famous of these missions).
Here is a complete list of the Spanish Missions in California..and links to other missions.
