Backed by Spain, the first mission in Upper California was founded in San Diego in 1769 by Friar Junipero Serra, a Franciscan priest, whose primary motivation was to convert Native Americans to Christianity. The missions were useful as a first step towards setting up Spanish military outposts and settlements in Alta California frontier territory that Spain (through the voyages of Christopher Columbus) had discovered over two centuries earlier. The missions introduced European crops and cattle into California and also attempted to educate the Native Americans. The 21st and final mission, Mission San Francisco Solano, in Sonoma was built in 1823 by Fr. Jose Altimira.
I have a personal mission to visit all 21 missions in Alta California in my lifetime. This post will follow my own trail of the California Missions, of which hitherto, I have visited only 9; I will add to this post as I visit new ones. My path begins at Old Mission Santa Barbara. (Click on any image for an enlarged view)
1. Old Mission Santa Barbara (10th mission in chronological age; 7th mission north of San Diego) - 2201 Laguna Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105; founded by Fr. Fermin Lasuen on December 4, 1786.
Above right: Fray Junipero Serra (1713-1784) - Founder of the California Missions
