Spanish missions in California

The Spanish missions in California formed a series of 21 religious outposts established between 1769 and 1833 in what is now the U.S. state of California. These missions were set up by Catholic priests of the Franciscan order, supported by the Spanish Empire. Their main goal was to share their beliefs with the local people and expand the settlements of New Spain into Alta California.

The locations of the 21 Franciscan missions in Alta California.

Many local people were brought into the missions, which changed their lives greatly. They faced tough conditions, and diseases from Europe caused many deaths. Some people tried to escape or fight back against these changes. Over time, the missions lost their power, especially after Mexico achieved independence from Spain in 1821.

Today, the old mission buildings are some of California’s oldest structures and most-visited historic sites. They have inspired many movies and TV shows and influenced the style of buildings known as Mission Revival architecture. Cities like the four largest—Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco—grew up around these missions.

Alta California mission planning, structure, and culture

Coastal mission chain, planning and overview

Before 1754, the Spanish Crown gave out lands for missions. But because these places were far away and hard to reach, the leaders of New Spain were allowed to decide where to give the land. King Charles III let them give land to start missions in Alta California. They wanted to do this because Russian traders were living along the California coast in the 1700s.

The missions were connected by a road called the Camino Real, or Royal Road. A priest named Junípero Serra was in charge of planning the missions. After Serra died, another priest named Fermín Francisco de Lasuén started nine more missions. Others started the last three missions and some smaller helper places called asistencias.

Shelved plans for additional mission chains

Work on the coastal missions finished in 1823. Plans to build a twenty-second mission in Santa Rosa in 1827 were canceled.

Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, circa 1910. This mission is architecturally distinctive because of the strong Moorish lines exhibited.

A priest named Pedro Estévan Tápis wanted to start a mission on one of the Channel Islands near San Pedro Harbor in 1784. The idea was that people who did not live on the mainland might come to live there. But a sickness called measles killed many people, and there wasn’t enough water or land to grow food, so the plan was stopped.

In 1821, a priest named Mariano Payeras wanted to start a line of missions farther inland. But this plan never happened either.

Mission sites, selection and layout

A mission, along with a fort called a presidio and a town called a pueblo, was one of three important places the Spanish used to grow their land. Smaller helper missions called asistencias were also started in places where many native people lived. The Spanish always started their missions near the coast. Each mission had to grow its own food because it was hard to get supplies from far away.

When starting a mission, the priests picked a place with good water, wood for building, and space for animals and crops. They built a church first, and then other buildings around it, like workshops, kitchens, and places to live. The church was usually built pointing east to west to catch the sunlight.

Franciscans and native conscription

The Missionaries as They Came and Went. Franciscans of the California missions donned gray habits, in contrast to the brown that is typically worn today.

The missions were places where native people were brought together to learn about European ways and the Catholic religion. The Spanish made native people move to the missions, where they had to work and follow the rules of the priests. Some native people came because they were curious or wanted to trade, but many were forced to stay after they were baptized.

Native people had to work at the missions and go to church every day. If they left without permission, they were considered runaways and were brought back by soldiers. Sometimes, the priests let people visit their homes but followed them to bring them back.

Death rate at the missions

Many native people died at the missions because of sickness, hard work, not enough food, and living in crowded places. Diseases spread quickly because so many people were living close together. The food they were given also made it harder to stay healthy.

Mission labor

Native people were required to work at the missions from sunrise to sunset, with breaks for meals and rest. They did many kinds of work, like farming, building, and making clothes. The missions were like places where people were forced to work without pay, and they produced goods that helped the missions but not the local people.

A drawing of Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo prepared by Captain George Vancouver depicts the grounds as they appeared in November 1792. From A Voyage of Discovery to the North Pacific Ocean and Round the World.

Franciscan violence against the native population

Some priests were very strict and hurt native people who did not follow the rules. They did not allow native people to practice their own traditions or languages. Women, in particular, were treated very badly and punished if they did not obey.

Mission industries

The missions grew crops like barley, maize, and wheat, and also grew fruits like oranges and grapes. They raised animals like cattle and sheep for meat, wool, and leather. The missions made many things by hand, such as clothes, soap, and tools, using local materials. They also built water systems to bring fresh water to the mission.

History

Beginning in 1492 with the voyages of Christopher Columbus, the Kingdom of Spain wanted to build missions to teach indigenous people in Nueva España (New Spain), which included the Caribbean, Mexico, and most of what is now the Southwestern United States), about the Catholic faith. This helped Spain control these lands given to them by the Catholic Church, including the area later called Alta California.

The first recorded baptisms in Alta California were performed in "The Canyon of the Little Christians".

In 1540, Francisco Vázquez de Coronado led a big journey from Mexico through parts of the southwestern United States to present-day Kansas. Later, in 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo sailed along the coast of Baja California and into Alta California. Even though an English explorer named Francis Drake briefly claimed part of Alta California for England in 1579, England never tried to control the area.

Eventually, Spain felt the need to protect its claims in Alta California, especially after Russian explorers showed interest in the area. To control their growing lands and teach indigenous people the Spanish language, skills, and Christian teachings, Spain created a network of missions. The first missions in Alta California were founded in 1769, starting with San Diego and then Monterey.

Organization

The Spanish set up 21 missions in California between 1769 and 1833. These missions were religious outposts created by Catholic priests to spread their faith among local people. They were supported by the Spanish government and its military.

Pablo Tac, who lived at Mission San Luis Rey in the 1820s and 1830s, penned this drawing depicting two young men wearing skirts of twine and feathers with feather decorations on their heads, rattles in their hands, and (perhaps) painted decorations on their bodies.

Each mission was meant to become self-sufficient after ten years, but this never fully happened. The missions relied on money from Spain for support. Later, during a war in Mexico, this support stopped, leaving the missions to manage on their own.

The native people worked on the missions, but many died from diseases like measles. In 1811, leaders in Mexico asked the missions about the local people, and the responses gave valuable information about their lives.

Russian settlers also tried to build in California but left after struggling to find enough resources. In 1818, a privateer attacked some missions, causing damage.

Spain stopped expanding the missions in 1819 due to costs. In 1824, the Chumash people rebelled against the missions but were eventually persuaded to return.

In 1833, Mexico closed the missions, taking away their lands and ending their work. This brought big changes for the native people and the land they lived on.

The missions helped shape early California, influencing its cities and economy. Sadly, many native people died from diseases and other hardships during this time.

Mission administration

The "Father-Presidente" was the leader of the Catholic missions in Alta and Baja California.

System Father-Presidentes

The Rev. Junípero Serra (1769–1784)
The Rev. Francisco Palóu (presidente pro tempore) (1784–1785)
The Rev. Fermín Francisco de Lasuén (1785–1803)
The Rev. Pedro Estévan Tápis (1803–1812)
The Rev. José Francisco de Paula Señan (1812–1815)
The Rev. Mariano Payéras (1815–1820)
The Rev. José Francisco de Paula Señan (1820–1823)
The Rev. Vicente Francisco de Sarría (1823–1824)
The Rev. Narciso Durán (1824–1827)
The Rev. José Bernardo Sánchez (1827–1831)
The Rev. Narciso Durán (1831–1838)
The Rev. José Joaquin Jimeno (1838–1844)
The Rev. Narciso Durán (1844–1846)

He was chosen by the College of San Fernando de Mexico until 1812. After that, the role was called the "Commissary Prefect" and chosen by the Commissary General of the Indies, a Franciscan from Spain. Starting in 1831, different people were picked to lead Upper and Lower California.

Mission headquarters

Mission San Diego de Alcalá (1769–1771)
Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo (1771–1815)
Mission La Purísima Concepción*(1815–1819)
Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo (1819–1824)
Mission San José*(1824–1827)
Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo (1827–1830)
Mission San José*(1830–1833)
Mission Santa Barbara (1833–1846)

The Rev. Payeras and the Rev. Durán stayed at their missions while leading, so those places became the main centers (until 1833, when all mission records were moved to Santa Barbara).

Mission locations

Main article: List of Spanish missions in California

There were 21 missions with military outposts in Alta California from San Diego to Sonoma, California. The missions were placed about 30 miles (48 kilometers) apart, which took about one day's journey on horseback or three days on foot. This created a 600-mile (966-kilometer) long "California Mission Trail".^: 132 ^: 152 Heavy goods could only be moved by water. It is said that the priests sprinkled mustard seeds along the trail to mark it with bright yellow flowers.^: 79 ^: 260

Following the old Camino Real northwards, from San Diego through to the northernmost mission in Sonoma, California, north of San Francisco Bay, the missions were:

No.	Name	Named for	Location	Date founded
1	Mission San Diego de Alcalá	St. Didacus of Alcalá	San Diego	July 16, 1769
2	Mission San Luis Rey de Francia	St. Louis, King of France	Oceanside	June 12, 1798
3	Mission San Juan Capistrano	St. John of Capistrano	San Juan Capistrano	November 1, 1776
4	Mission San Gabriel Arcángel	The Archangel Gabriel	San Gabriel	September 8, 1771
5	Mission San Fernando Rey de España	St. Ferdinand, King of Spain	Los Angeles	September 8, 1797
6	Mission San Buenaventura	St. Bonaventure	Ventura	March 31, 1782
7	Mission Santa Barbara	St. Barbara	Santa Barbara	December 4, 1786
8	Mission Santa Inés	St. Agnes	Solvang	September 17, 1804
9	Mission La Purísima Concepción	The Immaculate Conception	Southeast of Lompoc	December 8, 1787
10	Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa	St. Louis of Toulouse	San Luis Obispo	September 1, 1772
11	Mission San Miguel Arcángel	The Archangel Michael	San Miguel	July 25, 1797
12	Mission San Antonio de Padua	St. Anthony of Padua	Northwest of Jolon	July 14, 1771
13	Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad	Mary, Our Lady of Solitude	South of Soledad	October 9, 1791
14	Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo	St. Charles Borromeo	Carmel	June 3, 1770
15	Mission San Juan Bautista	St. John the Baptist	San Juan Bautista	June 24, 1797
16	Mission Santa Cruz	The Exaltation of the Holy Cross	Santa Cruz	August 28, 1791
17	Mission Santa Clara de Asís	St. Clare of Assisi	Santa Clara	January 12, 1777
18	Mission San José	St. Joseph	Fremont	June 11, 1797
19	Mission San Francisco de Asís	St. Francis of Assisi	San Francisco	October 9, 1776
20	Mission San Rafael Arcángel	The Archangel Raphael	San Rafael	December 14, 1817
21	Mission San Francisco Solano	St. Francis Solanus	Sonoma	April 4, 1824

Presidios and military districts

During the time when the missions were being built in California, the land was split into four military areas. Each area had a strong fort called a presidio. These forts were placed along the coast to guard the missions and other Spanish settlements. Each fort was a base for soldiers in its own region and worked separately from the others.

The forts, from south to north, were:

El Presidio Real de San Diego, built in 1769, protected the missions in the first military area.
El Presidio Real de Santa Bárbara, built in 1782, protected the missions in the second military area, including Los Angeles.
El Presidio Real de San Carlos de Monterey, built in 1770, protected the missions in the third military area, including Santa Cruz.
El Presidio Real de San Francisco, built in 1776, protected the missions in the fourth military area, including San Jose.

Later, El Presidio de Sonoma was built in 1836 to help stop Russian visitors from entering the area. It became important for the Mexican Army, while the older forts were left unused and fell apart over time.

Present-day California missions

California has many well-preserved old missions, more than any other state in the U.S. Many of these missions are still owned and cared for by the Catholic Church. Some are special because they have been named important places by leaders around the world.

Artists have been very interested in these missions for a long time. Their paintings and drawings helped people remember and care about these special buildings. Books and stories have also made the missions famous.

Today, the missions look different depending on which one you visit. Some have been rebuilt, while others still look very much like they did long ago. Many people visit these missions to learn about the past and enjoy their beauty. In 2004, a law was passed to help protect and fix up these important places.