California Mission Facts
Twenty-one Spanish missions, built from 1769 to 1823, form a chain along the coastal area of California. Constructed partly by the Spanish Catholics of the Franciscan Order, the missions were designed to serve as outposts to spread Catholicism to Native Americans. The missions were to be self-sufficient through farming, ranching and winemaking, but never achieved their goal. Spanish rule of the missions ended after 1826.
Other People Are Reading
-
The Missions
-
The missions served as frontier stations with Assistencias, or satellite missions, in smaller communities with the intent to convert Indians to Christianity and employ a taxpaying work force.
Motives
-
In addition to religious conversions, Spain sought to keep Russian encroachment from the north in check and to maintain control of its vast California holdings.
-
Junípero Serra
-
The Franciscans replaced the Jesuits who had established 15 of the missions by 1768, with Fray Junípero Serra taking charge of operations.
Disease
-
A measles epidemic decimated one-quarter of the Indian population in 1806 near the San Francisco Mission because they were not immune to European diseases.
Secularization
-
Mexico declared independence from Spain in 1821, acquired Alta California as part of its empire, and secularized the missions in 1826, ending Franciscan rule.
Today
-
The missions are historic landmarks, with the Santa Barbara Mission serving as California's oldest library and holding 3,000 Franciscan documents relating to mission operations.
-
Resources
- Photo Credit State of California
