Californian Missions
The chain of 21 missions along California's El Camino Real ("The Royal Highway") marked the arrival of non-Native Americans to California. They brought not only Christianity but also the beginnings of agriculture and farming and can perhaps be thought of as the start of today's civilization. However the lives of many Native Americans were lost as a result of the Spanish founders.
The first leg of El Camino Real was forged by General Gaspar de Portola on his journey from San Diego to find Monterey Bay. Tracing his path, missionaries, colonists and soldiers all traveled its dusty stretches; it was the only road between the few civilized outposts. The road was later identified with the missions because the padres maintained the roadway and offered hospitable lodging to all. It served as the north-south stagecoach route after California became a state in 1850, and in the 1920s bronze mission bells were placed along the highway to let motorists know they were traveling the historic El Camino Real.
Largely reconstructed after the ravages of time, weather, earthquakes and neglect, most of the missions still operate as active Catholic parishes, with regularly scheduled services. Booklets for self-guided tours are usually available; hours of operation and fees may vary.
The 21 Missions
San Diego de Alcalá
10818 San Diego Mission Rd., San Diego, 92108-2429, (619) 281-8449
San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo
3080 Rio Rd., Carmel, 93923, (831) 624-3600
San Antonio de Padua
Mission Creek Rd., Jolon, 93928, (831) 385-4478
San Gabriel Arcángel
537 W. Mission Dr., San Gabriel, 91776, (626) 282-5191
San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
782 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, 93401, (805) 543-6850
San Francisco de Asís
3321 16th St., San Francisco, 94114, (415) 621-8203
San Juan Capistrano
Ortega Hwy. at Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 92693, (949) 248-2049
Santa Clara de Asís
500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, 95953, (408) 554-4023
San Buenaventura
225 E. Main St., Ventura, 93001, (805) 648-4496
Santa Bárbara
2201 Laguna St., Santa Barbara, 93105, (805) 682-4713
La Purísima Concepción
2295 Purisima Rd., Lompoc, 93436, (805) 733-3713
Santa Cruz
126 High St., Santa Cruz, 95060, (831) 426-5686
Nuestra Señora de la Soledad
36641 Ft. Romie Rd., Soledad, 93960, (831) 678-2586
San José
43300 Mission Blvd., Fremont, 94539, (510) 657-1797
San Juan Bautista
Second and Mariposa Sts. in San Juan Bautista, 95045, (831) 623-4528
San Miguel Arcángel
801 Mission St., San Miguel, 93451, (805) 467-3256
San Fernando Rey de España
15151 San Fernando Mission Blvd., Mission Hills, 91345, (818) 361-0186
San Luis Rey de Francia
4050 Mission Ave., San Luis Rey, 92068, (760) 757-3651
Santa Inés
1760 Mission Dr., Solvang, CA 93463, Solvang, 93464, (805) 688-4815
San Rafael Arcángel
1104 Fifth Ave., San Rafael, 94901, (415) 454-8141
San Francisco Solano
20 E. Spain St., Sonoma, 95476, (707) 938-1519
