Missions Timeline
California Mission History on . . .
California Mission History on . . .
1769 May 14 - Saint Junípero Serra founded his first mission, Mission San Fernando de Velicatá (about 35 miles southeast of El Rosario, Baja California, Mexico). Eventually the Dominicans took charge and today lay in ruins.
1769 May 14 - Saint Junípero Serra founded his first mission, Mission San Fernando de Velicatá (about 35 miles southeast of El Rosario, Baja California, Mexico). Eventually the Dominicans took charge and today lay in ruins.
1769 July 16 - Saint Junípero Serra founded Mission San Diego de Alcalá, the 1st of the 21 California Missions, and marks the birthplace of Christianity on the West Coast of the United States.
1769 July 16 - Saint Junípero Serra founded Mission San Diego de Alcalá, the 1st of the 21 California Missions, and marks the birthplace of Christianity on the West Coast of the United States.
1770 June 3 - Saint Junípero Serra founded Mission San Carlos Borroméo del rio Carmelo, the 2nd of the 21 California missions. Pilgrims from all over the world go there to visit the grave of the Mission’s founder.
1770 June 3 - Saint Junípero Serra founded Mission San Carlos Borroméo del rio Carmelo, the 2nd of the 21 California missions. Pilgrims from all over the world go there to visit the grave of the Mission’s founder.
Tony Cerda, Chief of the Rumsen/Ohlone People, A band of Carmel Mission Indians, shared with Pope Francis, “We wholeheartedly support the canonization of Saint Junipero Serra because he protected our people and supported their full human rights against the politicians and the military with total disregard for his own life and safety.”
Tony Cerda, Chief of the Rumsen/Ohlone People, A band of Carmel Mission Indians, shared with Pope Francis, “We wholeheartedly support the canonization of Saint Junipero Serra because he protected our people and supported their full human rights against the politicians and the military with total disregard for his own life and safety.”
1771 July 14 - Saint Junípero Serra founded Mission San Antonio de Padua, the 3rd of the 21 California missions. It served the Salinan Indians and is currently located on a military base in present-day Monterey County, California, near the present-day town of Jolon.
1771 July 14 - Saint Junípero Serra founded Mission San Antonio de Padua, the 3rd of the 21 California missions. It served the Salinan Indians and is currently located on a military base in present-day Monterey County, California, near the present-day town of Jolon.
1771 September 8 - Mission San Gabriel Arcángel was consecrated by Fathers Pedro Cambón and Angel de la Somera and was the 4th of the 21 California missions. The baptismal font was brought from Spain in 1771 and is still in use.
1771 September 8 - Mission San Gabriel Arcángel was consecrated by Fathers Pedro Cambón and Angel de la Somera and was the 4th of the 21 California missions. The baptismal font was brought from Spain in 1771 and is still in use.
1772 September 1 - Saint Junípero Serra founded Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, the 5th of the 21 California missions. Built with the aid of the local Chumash Indians, it is named after Saint Louis, Bishop of Toulouse, France.
1772 September 1 - Saint Junípero Serra founded Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, the 5th of the 21 California missions. Built with the aid of the local Chumash Indians, it is named after Saint Louis, Bishop of Toulouse, France.
1776 October 9 - Mission San Francisco de Asís was consecrated by Father Francisco Palóu and was the 6th of the 21 California missions. It is the oldest intact Mission and the oldest building in San Francisco.
1776 October 9 - Mission San Francisco de Asís was consecrated by Father Francisco Palóu and was the 6th of the 21 California missions. It is the oldest intact Mission and the oldest building in San Francisco.
1776 November 1 - Saint Junípero Serra founded Mission San Juan Capistrano, the 7th of the 21 California missions. The Serra Chapel, built in 1782, is the only original California mission church still standing in which the Apostle of California is known to have celebrated the sacraments.
1776 November 1 - Saint Junípero Serra founded Mission San Juan Capistrano, the 7th of the 21 California missions. The Serra Chapel, built in 1782, is the only original California mission church still standing in which the Apostle of California is known to have celebrated the sacraments.
1777 January 12 - Junípero Serra founded Mission Santa Clara de Asís, the 8th of the 21 California missions and the first mission in California named after a woman. The mission was consecrated by Father Tomás de la Peña.
1777 January 12 - Junípero Serra founded Mission Santa Clara de Asís, the 8th of the 21 California missions and the first mission in California named after a woman. The mission was consecrated by Father Tomás de la Peña.
1782 March 31 - Saint Junípero Serra founded Mission San Buenaventura, the 9th of the 21 California missions, last founded during his lifetime, and one of six he personally dedicated.
1782 March 31 - Saint Junípero Serra founded Mission San Buenaventura, the 9th of the 21 California missions, last founded during his lifetime, and one of six he personally dedicated.
1786 December 4 - Father Fermín Francisco de Lasuén founded Mission Santa Bárbara, the 10th of the 21 California missions. It is a superb example of the combined efforts of Spanish engineering, Indian labor, and Mexican artisans. It is the only California mission that has two identical bell towers and to be continuously in the hands of the Franciscan order since its founding.
1786 December 4 - Father Fermín Francisco de Lasuén founded Mission Santa Bárbara, the 10th of the 21 California missions. It is a superb example of the combined efforts of Spanish engineering, Indian labor, and Mexican artisans. It is the only California mission that has two identical bell towers and to be continuously in the hands of the Franciscan order since its founding.
1787 December 8 - Father Fermín Francisco de Lasuén founded Mission La Purísima Concepción (at Lompoc), the 11th of the 21 California missions. The mission and its grounds are part of a state park today, reconstructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal program.
1787 December 8 - Father Fermín Francisco de Lasuén founded Mission La Purísima Concepción (at Lompoc), the 11th of the 21 California missions. The mission and its grounds are part of a state park today, reconstructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal program.
1791 August 28 - Father Fermín Francisco de Lasuén founded Mission Santa Cruz (la Exaltacion de la Santa Cruz), the 12th of the 21 California missions. It was here in 1812 that the second and last priest was killed during the California mission period, Andrés Quintana.
1791 August 28 - Father Fermín Francisco de Lasuén founded Mission Santa Cruz (la Exaltacion de la Santa Cruz), the 12th of the 21 California missions. It was here in 1812 that the second and last priest was killed during the California mission period, Andrés Quintana.
1791 October 9 - Father Fermín Francisco de Lasuén founded Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad (at Soledad), the 13th of the 21 California missions. In 2000, the Mission pressed its first harvest from twelve olive trees (planted during the restoration period). Not since Mission secularization in the 1830s, had any mission produced its own sacramental oil.
1791 October 9 - Father Fermín Francisco de Lasuén founded Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad (at Soledad), the 13th of the 21 California missions. In 2000, the Mission pressed its first harvest from twelve olive trees (planted during the restoration period). Not since Mission secularization in the 1830s, had any mission produced its own sacramental oil.
1797 June 11 - Father Fermín Francisco de Lasuén founded Mission San José (located in the present-day city of Fremont, California), the 14th of the 21 California missions at the site of the Ohlone village of Oroysom. By 1831, there were 1,886 Mission Indians.
1797 June 11 - Father Fermín Francisco de Lasuén founded Mission San José (located in the present-day city of Fremont, California), the 14th of the 21 California missions at the site of the Ohlone village of Oroysom. By 1831, there were 1,886 Mission Indians.
1797 June 24 - Father Fermín Francisco de Lasuén founded Mission San Juan Bautista, the 15th of the 21 California missions. Known as “The Mission of Music”, the church has had an unbroken succession of pastors from its foundation. Fun fact: Scenes in Hitchcock’s Vertigo were filmed at the Mission on October 10, 1957.
1797 June 24 - Father Fermín Francisco de Lasuén founded Mission San Juan Bautista, the 15th of the 21 California missions. Known as “The Mission of Music”, the church has had an unbroken succession of pastors from its foundation. Fun fact: Scenes in Hitchcock’s Vertigo were filmed at the Mission on October 10, 1957.
1797 July 25 - Father Fermín Francisco de Lasuén founded Mission San Miguel Arcángel, the 16th of the 21 California missions. Nearly destroyed in the 2003 San Simeon earthquake, the church reopened on September 29, 2009. The Mission’s appearance today is much the same as when it was first founded.
1797 July 25 - Father Fermín Francisco de Lasuén founded Mission San Miguel Arcángel, the 16th of the 21 California missions. Nearly destroyed in the 2003 San Simeon earthquake, the church reopened on September 29, 2009. The Mission’s appearance today is much the same as when it was first founded.
1797 September 8 - Father Fermín Francisco de Lasuén founded Mission San Fernando Rey de España (at San Fernando), the 17th of the 21 California missions. The present church is an exact replica of the one completed in 1806.
1797 September 8 - Father Fermín Francisco de Lasuén founded Mission San Fernando Rey de España (at San Fernando), the 17th of the 21 California missions. The present church is an exact replica of the one completed in 1806.
1798 June 13 - Father Fermín Francisco de Lasuén founded Mission San Luis Rey de Francia (at Oceanside), the 18th of the 21 California missions. Father Antonio Peyri was its pastor for over 33 years. Possibly the Mission’s greatest claim to fame was the native Californian Pablo Tac.
1798 June 13 - Father Fermín Francisco de Lasuén founded Mission San Luis Rey de Francia (at Oceanside), the 18th of the 21 California missions. Father Antonio Peyri was its pastor for over 33 years. Possibly the Mission’s greatest claim to fame was the native Californian Pablo Tac.
1804 September 17 - Father Estévan de Tapís founded Mission Santa Inés (at Solvang), the 19th of the 21 California missions. In 1843, the seminary Our Lady of Refuge was founded here. Since 1924, the Old Mission has been a parish shepherded by the Capuchin Franciscan Friars.
1804 September 17 - Father Estévan de Tapís founded Mission Santa Inés (at Solvang), the 19th of the 21 California missions. In 1843, the seminary Our Lady of Refuge was founded here. Since 1924, the Old Mission has been a parish shepherded by the Capuchin Franciscan Friars.
1817 December 14 - Father Vicente Francisco de Sarría founded Mission San Rafael Arcángel, the 20th of the 21 California missions. Due to its good weather, it was initially founded as a place to care for sick Indians from Mission San Francisco de Asís.
1817 December 14 - Father Vicente Francisco de Sarría founded Mission San Rafael Arcángel, the 20th of the 21 California missions. Due to its good weather, it was initially founded as a place to care for sick Indians from Mission San Francisco de Asís.
1823 July 4 - Founded by Father José Altimira, Mission San Francisco Solano (at Sonoma) was the last to be established and the only one under Mexican governance. At its peak in 1832, there were nearly 1,000 Native California Indians (Miwok, Pomo, Patwin, and Wapo) connected to the Mission.
1823 July 4 - Founded by Father José Altimira, Mission San Francisco Solano (at Sonoma) was the last to be established and the only one under Mexican governance. At its peak in 1832, there were nearly 1,000 Native California Indians (Miwok, Pomo, Patwin, and Wapo) connected to the Mission.
To learn more about California’s Mission history, visit www.Missions1769.com.
To learn more about California’s Mission history, visit www.Missions1769.com.
© Christian Clifford. One may reproduce for instructional and educational purposes only.