The 21 California Missions in Chronological Order
There are 21 California missions founded between 1769 and 1823 in Alta California. Established under Spanish colonial authority and administered by Franciscan friars, the missions formed a chain of religious and agricultural settlements along the Pacific coast.
The first mission, Mission San Diego de Alcalá, was founded in 1769. The final mission, Mission San Francisco Solano, was established in 1823. Together, the 21 missions extended from present-day San Diego to Sonoma and played a central role in the early colonial history of the region.
The following list presents the 21 California missions in chronological order, including their founding dates and locations.
1. Mission San Diego de Alcalá (1769)
Location: San Diego
Mission San Diego de Alcalá was founded on July 16, 1769, by Father Junípero Serra. It was the first of the 21 California missions and marked the beginning of the mission system in Alta California. The mission was relocated shortly after its founding due to local conflict and resource concerns. Over time, it developed agricultural operations and served as a base for further expansion northward.
2. Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo (1770)
Location: Carmel-by-the-Sea
Founded in 1770, Mission San Carlos Borromeo became the headquarters of Father Junípero Serra and the administrative center of the mission system. It was relocated from Monterey to Carmel to improve agricultural conditions. Serra is buried at this mission. It played a central role in coordinating mission expansion during the early years of colonization.
3. Mission San Antonio de Padua (1771)
Location: Near Jolon
Established in 1771, Mission San Antonio de Padua was founded in a valley chosen for farming and livestock. It developed large-scale agricultural operations and produced grain and livestock for surrounding settlements. The mission remains one of the more remote sites in the system, preserving elements of its early rural setting.
4. Mission San Gabriel Arcángel (1771)
Location: San Gabriel
Mission San Gabriel Arcángel was founded in 1771 and became one of the most productive missions in Alta California. Its agricultural output supported nearby presidios and growing settlements. The mission church remains one of the oldest surviving structures in Southern California and reflects early Spanish colonial architectural design.
5. Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa (1772)
Location: San Luis Obispo
Founded in 1772, Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa was established along El Camino Real between San Gabriel and San Antonio. It developed agricultural production and livestock operations that supported the surrounding region. The mission church was rebuilt after a fire in 1776 and remains an active parish today.
6. Mission San Francisco de Asís (1776)
Location: San Francisco
Mission San Francisco de Asís, also known as Mission Dolores, was founded in 1776. It is the oldest surviving building in San Francisco. The mission served Indigenous communities in the Bay Area and later became surrounded by urban development as the city expanded.
7. Mission San Juan Capistrano (1776)
Location: San Juan Capistrano
Founded in 1776, Mission San Juan Capistrano became known for its large stone church, portions of which were damaged by an earthquake in 1812. The mission developed agricultural production and remains one of the most visited historic mission sites in California.
8. Mission Santa Clara de Asís (1777)
Location: Santa Clara
Mission Santa Clara de Asís was founded in 1777 and relocated several times due to flooding. It became the center of what later developed into Santa Clara University. The mission continues to operate within the university campus as an active parish.
9. Mission San Buenaventura (1782)
Location: Ventura
Founded in 1782, Mission San Buenaventura was strategically located between southern and central missions. It developed orchards, vineyards, and livestock operations. The mission church remains active and retains architectural elements from the late eighteenth century.
10. Mission Santa Barbara (1786)
Location: Santa Barbara
Founded in 1786, Mission Santa Barbara became an important center of Franciscan activity in Alta California. The present church, completed in the early nineteenth century, features twin bell towers that distinguish it architecturally from most other missions. The site remains active today and also houses a Franciscan community and archive.
11. Mission La Purísima Concepción (1787)
Location: Lompoc
Mission La Purísima Concepción was founded in 1787 and later relocated after an earthquake in 1812. It was rebuilt in a linear design rather than the typical quadrangle layout. Today, it is preserved as a state historic park and reflects one of the most extensive mission restorations in California.
12. Mission Santa Cruz (1791)
Location: Santa Cruz
Established in 1791, Mission Santa Cruz was one of the smaller missions in the system. Much of the original complex was lost over time, and the present structure includes reconstructed elements. The mission played a role in regional agriculture and religious instruction during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
13. Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad (1791)
Location: Soledad
Founded in 1791, Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad was located in the Salinas Valley. It faced challenges due to flooding and isolation. Today, portions of the mission have been restored, and the site functions as a historic landmark that reflects its rural origins.
14. Mission San José (1797)
Location: Fremont
Mission San José was founded in 1797 in what is now Fremont. It developed extensive agricultural production and supported surrounding communities. The mission complex was heavily damaged by an earthquake in 1868 and later reconstructed. The site now operates as a restored historic mission.
15. Mission San Juan Bautista (1797)
Location: San Juan Bautista
Founded in 1797, Mission San Juan Bautista was located near the San Andreas Fault. Despite seismic activity, much of the original church structure survives. The mission remains active and retains portions of its historic quadrangle, offering insight into late eighteenth-century mission construction.
16. Mission San Miguel Arcángel (1797)
Location: San Miguel
Mission San Miguel Arcángel was established in 1797 along El Camino Real. The mission church is known for its original interior murals painted by Indigenous artisans under mission supervision. Portions of the structure have undergone restoration following earthquake damage.
17. Mission San Fernando Rey de España (1797)
Location: Los Angeles
Founded in 1797, Mission San Fernando Rey de España was located in the San Fernando Valley. It developed agricultural production and served as an important center in the southern portion of the mission chain. Restoration efforts in the twentieth century preserved portions of the original structure.
18. Mission San Luis Rey de Francia (1798)
Location: Oceanside
Mission San Luis Rey de Francia was founded in 1798 and became one of the largest and most productive missions in Alta California. It developed extensive agricultural lands and supported a substantial mission community. Today, the site includes a restored church, museum, cemetery and retreat center.
19. Mission Santa Inés (1804)
Location: Solvang
Established in 1804, Mission Santa Inés served communities in the Santa Ynez Valley. The mission complex includes original structures and reconstructed elements. It remains an active parish and a preserved historic site reflecting early nineteenth-century mission life.
20. Mission San Rafael Arcángel (1817)
Location: San Rafael
Mission San Rafael Arcángel was founded in 1817 as a medical asistencia of Mission San Francisco de Asís and later granted full mission status. It functioned initially as a hospital site before developing into a separate mission community. Most of the original mission buildings did not survive into the modern period. The present chapel and structures are reconstructions based on historical documentation.
21. Mission San Francisco Solano (1823)
Location: Sonoma
Founded in 1823, Mission San Francisco Solano was the final California mission established under Spanish and later Mexican rule. Located in Sonoma, it marked the northernmost point of the mission system. The mission was secularized only a decade after its founding and now operates as a preserved historic site.
The 21 missions together form a north–south corridor that defined the mission system in Alta California between 1769 and 1823. Today, these sites function as parishes, museums and historic landmarks across the state.
