California Mission Medals

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There are 21 Spanish missions in California, established between 1769 and 1823, stretching from San Diego to Sonoma along the 600-mile El Camino Real. Founded to expand Spanish territory, they served as religious, economic, and social centers. Today, they are popular historic landmarks, many acting as museums, with Mission San Diego de Alcalá as the oldest and San Luis Rey de Francia often considered the largest.

Junípero Serra (1713–1784) was a Spanish Franciscan friar known for founding the first nine of 21 Spanish missions in California (from San Diego to San Francisco) to convert Native Americans to Catholicism. Known as the "Apostle of California," he promoted a, "always forward, never back" philosophy, and was canonized as a saint by Pope Francis in 2015.

California Missions in Order of Founding

Mission San Diego de Alcalá (July 16, 1769) - San Diego
Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo (June 3, 1770) - Carmel
Mission San Antonio de Padua (July 14, 1771) - Jolon
Mission San Gabriel Arcángel (September 8, 1771) - San Gabriel
Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa (September 1, 1772) - San Luis Obispo
Mission San Francisco de Asís (October 9, 1776) - San Francisco
Mission San Juan Capistrano (November 1, 1776) - San Juan Capistrano
Mission Santa Clara de Asís (January 12, 1777) - Santa Clara
Mission San Buenaventura (March 31, 1782) - Ventura
Mission Santa Barbara (December 4, 1786) - Santa Barbara
Mission La Purísima Concepción (December 8, 1787) - Lompoc
Mission Santa Cruz (August 2, 1791) - Santa Cruz
Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad (October 9, 1791) - Soledad
Mission San José (June 11, 1797) - Fremont
Mission San Juan Bautista (June 24, 1797) - San Juan Bautista
Mission San Miguel Arcángel (July 25, 1797) - San Miguel
Mission San Fernando Rey de España (September 8, 1797) - Mission Hills
Mission San Luis Rey de Francia (June 13, 1798) - Oceanside
Mission Santa Inés (September 17, 1804) - Solvang
Mission San Rafael Arcángel (December 14, 1817) - San Rafael
Mission San Francisco Solano (July 4, 1823) - Sonoma