The 21 Spanish Missions in Alta California
The Spanish established 21 missions in California from 1769 to 1823. The missions played a key role in the settlement and growth of the state; many of the most important cities grew up around the missions.
Click the column headings to sort the table. Click the mission names to read about the missions.
You can also visit the animated California Missions Map to “watch” the missions as they are built, in order.
| Order | Name | Founded | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego de Alcalá – (P) | 1769 | San Diego |
| 2 | San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo – (P) | 1770 | Carmel |
| 3 | San Antonio de Padua | 1771 | Jolon (Ft. Hunter-Liggett) |
| 4 | San Gabriel Arcángel | 1771 | San Gabriel |
| 5 | San Luis Obispo de Tolosa | 1772 | San Luis Obispo |
| 6 | San Francisco de Asís (Mission Dolores) – (P) | 1776 | San Francisco |
| 7 | San Juan Capistrano | 1776 | San Juan Capistrano |
| 8 | Santa Clara de Asís | 1777 | Santa Clara |
| 9 | San Buenaventura | 1782 | Ventura |
| 10 | Santa Barbara – (P) | 1786 | Santa Barbara |
| 11 | La Purísima Concepción | 1787 | Lompoc |
| 12 | La Exaltación de la Santa Cruz | 1791 | Santa Cruz |
| 13 | Nuestra Señora de la Soledad | 1791 | Soledad |
| 14 | San José | 1797 | Fremont |
| 15 | San Juan Bautista | 1797 | San Juan Bautista |
| 16 | San Miguel Arcángel | 1797 | San Miguel |
| 17 | San Fernando Rey de España | 1797 | Mission Hills |
| 18 | San Luis Rey de Francia | 1798 | San Luis Rey |
| 19 | Santa Inés | 1804 | Solvang |
| 20 | San Rafael Arcángel | 1817 | San Rafael |
| 21 | San Francisco Solano – (P) | 1823 | Sonoma |
(P) = Locations of Presidios
