List of Spanish missions in California

The horse and mule trail known as El Camino Real as of 1821 and the locations of the 21 Franciscan missions in Alta California.

The List of Spanish missions in California are a series of 21 early missions accompanied by military outposts that were established by Franciscan priests between 1769 and 1833 in Alta California. Their goal was to spread Christianity among the local Native Americans.

To facilitate overland travel, the mission settlements were situated approximately 30 miles (48 kilometers) apart, about one day's journey on horseback, or three days on foot. The entire trail eventually became a 600-mile (966-kilometer) long "California Mission Trail." Rev. Lasuén successfully argued that filling in the empty spaces along El Camino Real with additional outposts would provide much-needed rest stops where travelers could take lodging in relative safety and comfort.[1]:132[2]:152 Heavy freight movement was practical only via water. Tradition has it that the padres sprinkled mustard seeds along the trail to mark it with bright yellow flowers.[3]:79[4]:260

Mission trail

Today a growing number of people, calling themselves California Mission Walkers, hike the mission trail route, usually in segments between the missions.[5] Walking the trail is a way to connect with the history of the missions. For some it represents a spiritual pilgrimage, inspired by Jesuit priest Richard Roos' 1985 book, Christwalk.[6] The loosely organized group is attempting to formalize the route and establish markers, similar to the 330 mile El Camino de Santiago, in Spain.

In chronological order

Mission Santa Inés
  1. Mission San Diego de Alcalá founded in 1769
  2. Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo founded in 1770
  3. Mission San Antonio de Padua founded in 1771
  4. Mission San Gabriel founded in 1771
  5. Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa founded in 1772
  6. Mission San Francisco de Asís (Mission Dolores) founded in 1776
  7. Mission San Juan Capistrano founded in 1776
  8. Mission Santa Clara de Asís founded in 1777
  9. Mission San Buenaventura founded in 1782
  10. Mission Santa Barbara founded in 1786
  11. Mission La Purísima Concepción founded in 1787
  12. Mission Santa Cruz founded in 1791
  13. Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad founded in 1791
  14. Mission San José founded in 1797
  15. Mission San Juan Bautista founded in 1797
  16. Mission San Miguel Arcángel founded in 1797
  17. Mission San Fernando Rey de España founded in 1797
  18. Mission San Luis Rey de Francia founded in 1798
  19. Mission Santa Inés founded in 1804
  20. Mission San Rafael Arcángel founded in 1817 – originally planned as an asistencia to Mission San Francisco de Asís
  21. Mission San Francisco Solano founded in 1823 – originally planned as an asistencia to Mission San Rafael Arcángel

In geographical order, north to south

Asistencias in geographical order, north to south

Asistencias were branch missions that allowed the priests to extend their reach into the native population at a modest cost.

Estancias in geographical order, north to south

An estancia or Estância was a Spanish, Brazilian, or Portuguese term describing private landholdings.

References

  1. ↑ Yenne, Bill (2004). The Missions of California. Advantage Publishers Group, San Diego, California. ISBN 1-59223-319-8.
  2. ↑ Bennett, John E. (January 1897a). "Should the California Missions Be Preserved? – Part I". Overland Monthly XXIX (169): 9–24.
  3. ↑ Markham, Edwin (1914). California the Wonderful: Her Romantic History, Her Picturesque People, Her Wild Shores... Hearst's International Library Company, Inc., New York.
  4. ↑ Riesenberg, Felix (1962). The Golden Road: The Story of California's Spanish Mission Trail. McGraw-Hill, New York. ISBN 0-07-052740-7.
  5. ↑ "El Camino Real's California Mission Walkers". California Mission Guide. 2014.
  6. ↑ Roos, Fr. Richard (1985). "Christwalk". Paulist Press.
  7. ↑ "San Mateo asistencia (hospice) and granary". San Mateo Daily journal. 2009-02-02. Retrieved 2015-06-17.
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