arrow-down arrow-left arrow-right arrow-up play-button plus tab-indicator dots close menu search facebook google-plus instagram pinterest rss twitter youtube rss-two heart Check FeaturedBadge linkedin minus apps placeholder linkedin

The California Missions of San Diego

San Diego's Spanish Heritage

San Diego's Spanish heritage is nowhere more firmly rooted than in its dramatically beautiful missions. It was here the missionary monks, led by Father Junipero Serra, began their chain of 21 missions throughout California. Two missions and two assistencias can still be found within the county.

Early Days of Alta California

Between 1769 and 1823, the Spanish built 21 missions in a chain that stretched from San Diego to north of the San Francisco Bay in an attempt to colonize "Alta California" (present day California, Nevada and Utah, and parts of Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico). The missions were approximately 30 miles apart, which was considered a one-day’s journey on horseback. The road connecting the missions was known as the El Camino Real, which means "The Royal Highway." Father Junipero Serra established nine missions before his death and burial at Mission San Carlos.

Mission San Luis Rey

Often called the "King of the Missions," Mission San Luis Rey is the largest of all 21 California missions. Located on Highway 76, four miles east of Interstate 5 in the seaside community of Oceanside, the mission is the second in geographical location heading north among coastline sites. Established by Father Fermin de Lasuen in 1798, the mission was the eighteenth founded and was named after King Luis IX of France. The mission now serves as a Parish church and retreat center.

Until the mid-1800s, the mission's church was the largest structure in California. Soon after its founding in 1798, Mission San Luis Rey housed and served the largest population of Native Americans (more than 2,000). The mission was the only one in California to have a wooden cupola and dome of its type and design, made from pine trees brought down from Palomar Mountain. Mission San Luis Rey features a museum that houses the largest collection of 18th and 19th century Spanish vestments in the United States. It’s open to the public Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM for self-guided tours. Last self-guided tour begins at 4:30 PM. Like Mission San Diego de Alcala and the two assistencias, Mission San Luis Rey is still used as a house of worship.

Mission San Diego de Alcala

In 1769, Gaspar de Portola and his expedition founded the Presidio of San Diego (military post), and Franciscan friars then raised and blessed a cross, establishing the first mission in what was known then as Upper California. Mission San Diego de Alcala, the first of 21 Franciscan establishments in California, was founded on Presidio Hill on July 16, 1769, by Father Junipero Serra. Colonists began arriving and, soon after, the native people rebelled. They killed the priest and two others and burned the mission. Father Serra organized the rebuilding and, two years later, a fire-proof adobe structure was built.

In 1774, the mission was relocated to its present site six miles inland, along the San Diego River to ensure a good water supply. However, an Indian uprising and massacre in 1775 forced a temporary retreat to the Presidio. By 1797, the mission had become the largest in California. Restored in 1931, the mission is open to the public from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM daily, and features a museum, gift shop, archaeological ruins and beautiful gardens. Services are held daily in the original mission chapel.

The Father Luis Jayme Museum at the mission is an interfaith, ecclesiastical art museum, featuring some of the original mission records in Father Serra's handwriting, as well as many early liturgical robes, books and other relics.

Presidio Hill, the original site of the mission, is sometimes referred to as the "Plymouth Rock of the West Coast." It is now the location of the Junipero Serra Museum, which stands prominently atop the hill overlooking historic Old Town State Park and Mission Valley. The Junipero Serra Museum contains thousands of artifacts unearthed from this historic site.

Pala Mission

Twenty miles northeast on Highway 76 near Mt. Palomar, the Assistencia de San Antonio de Pala, better known as the Pala Mission, was built in 1816 as a branch of Mission San Luis Rey. This is the only California mission still used as a school and place of worship by the Indians. The Pala Mission museum contains fascinating Indian artifacts and is open Wednesday and Friday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Thursday 12:00 to 4:00 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Sunday 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and closed Monday and Tuesday.

Santa Ysabel Assistencia

Southeast of Pala, on Highway 79 near Julian, Santa Ysabel is an assistencia of Mission San Diego de Alcala. It is open to the public daily during summer (Memorial Day thru Labor Day) from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM and from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM the rest of the year. Both the San Antonio de Pala and Santa Ysabel assistencias are now under the care of the Verona Fathers, a religious order.

Mission San Juan Capistrano in Orange County

If you're planning a day-trip outside of San Diego County, Mission San Juan Capistrano is located just a short drive up the coast in Orange County. Founded by Father Serra in 1776 and known as the "Jewel of the Missions," the historic spot celebrates the return of the cliff swallows each March 19 (St. Joseph's Day) and hosts year-round fine art exhibitions, performing arts concerts and cultural programs for children.

Find a place to stay

Book online or call 1-800-350-6205 to speak with a local expert

Related Articles and Features

Deals just for you

Accommodation

Drink, Dine, & Dance Package

Humphreys Half Moon Inn
Valid: Jan 3 - ongoing

Experience the greatest aspects of staying at Humphreys Half Moon Inn - drinking, dining and dancing. Book now to receive a daily $50 food & beverage credit, along with two craft cocktails at...

Venues

$5 Off Any Cruise for Cruise Ship Passengers

Flagship Cruises & Events
Valid: Jan 3 - ongoing

Welcome to beautiful San Diego. Explore the San Diego Bay with the local, Flagship Cruises. Get $5 off any cruise: San Diego Harbor Tour, Patriot Jet Boat Thrill Ride, Whale Watching, Nightly Dinner...

Event Planners

Show Your Badge & Save at Rei Do Gado Steakhouse

Rei do Gado Brazilian Steak House
Valid: Nov 30, 2022 - ongoing

Dine in at Rei Do Gado Brazilian Steakhouse and receive 15% discount when you Show Your Convention Badge. To redeem, please show your server this page on your phone or print and present upon...

Events to check out

Event

San Diego Crew Classic

Mar 31 - Apr 2, 2023

Regarded as the first major regatta of the year, the San Diego Crew Classic brings together thousands of athletes from more than 100 universities, clubs and high school programs across the United...

Event

La Jolla Half Marathon & Shores 5K

May 20, 2023

The La Jolla Half Marathon is one of America's most picturesque and beautiful point-to-point races. Starting at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, the course follows a scenic coastal route before reaching the...

Event

North Park Festival of Beers

Apr 1, 2023

The 14th annual North Park Festival of Beers is back on Saturday, April 1, 2023, sampling more than 50 beers from the best breweries on the planet. Plus live music, specialty food vendors and more!...

Stay in touch

Sign up to receive the latest news, events, and updates about San Diego. Our monthly and weekly newsletters will keep you informed about the latest and greatest happenings in the destination.

Sign Up

Partners

Explore

Plan

Stay

Follow Us

Language:

English | Change Language

Select your country or region

China FlagChinaGermany FlagGermanyGreat Britain FlagGreat BritainJapan FlagJapanMexico FlagMexicoKorea FlagKoreaSwitzerland FlagSwitzerlandBrazil FlagBrazilFrance FlagFranceAustralia FlagAustraliaCanada FlagCanada USA

Or use Google Translate

Afrikaans Albanian Arabic Belarusian Bulgarian Catalan Croatian Czech Danish Deutsch Español Estonian Filipino Finnish Francais Galician Greek Haitian-Creole Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Icelandic Indonesian Irish Italian Japanese Korean Latvian Lithuanian Macedonian Malay Maltese Nederlands Norwegian Persian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Swahili Swedish Telugu Thai Turkish Ukranian Vietnamese Welsh Yiddish