California Mission Guide: 2nd Edition
The contents of the California Mission Guide website are now available in paperback and Kindle formats. Perfect for your trips to the California Missions!
The California missions represented the final expansion of the Spanish Empire. From 1769 to 1823, Spanish soldiers and monks built a total of 21 Missions and 5 Presidios (or military forts), stretching North from Mexico, along the Pacific coast, through the territory that was then known as Alta California.
Over a short period – little more than 50 years – the Spanish brought a new culture to California, spreading European religion, agricultural practices, and eventually forms of government. The settlements around the missions became the seeds of modern California’s major cities. The trail connecting the missions, El Camino Real, became California’s first “highway,” and its route is closely followed by modern Highway 101.
The designs of the missions still influence California architecture. In a very real sense, California as we know it today would not exist without the foundation of the missions.
The missions left a complex and sometimes dark impact on California’s indigenous people, while shaping the state’s language, culture, agriculture, and cuisine. To truly understand California, one must explore the mission era and its profound influence on the region’s development.
The California Mission Guide is designed as an accessible and engaging companion for travelers and history enthusiasts alike. It’s not a dense historical tome, but a concise, easy-to-read guide that highlights the essential stories, architecture, and unique aspects of each mission.
Packed with practical insights, historical context, and must-know details, this guidebook is your perfect travel companion as you journey through California’s rich mission heritage. Whether you’re planning to visit in person or explore from home, the California Mission Guide brings history to life in an informative and enjoyable way.
Note: This book does not contain photographs of the missions! There are many beautiful photo books featuring the California Missions. My goal for the California Mission Guide was to provide a small book with key information on each of the missions, and the mission system in general.
