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DURING RESTORATION of San Miguel (see interior on opposite page) the original adobe bricks were broken up by the padres and recast for same building.
SAN CARLOS BORROMEO, near colorful Carmel, is the final resting place of Fra Junipero Serra, revered father of entire California mission system.
MISSION BEGINNINGS
Fra Junipero Serra, who came to Mexico just 200 years ago, had a preconceived plan for the missions when he was appointed first president of California Missions. His plan envisioned a chain of missions up the coast of Alta California spaced about a day's travel or twenty to thirty miles apart. In 1769 the first of these was founded by Father Serra at San Diego, which he named San Diego de Alcala, after the name given the region many years earlier by a Spanish explorer.
Although the mission trail now stretches from San Diego in the south to Solano in the north, the missions were not built in this order. For convenience sake, however, we shall describe them as they would be visited traveling north from the Mexican border. No explicit instructions to the traveler are needed, as nearly all the twenty one are on or not far off El Camino Real, U.S. 101. The familiar mission bells set at frequent intervals along the route, used by the traveler of old to announce his approach to the mission, also serve as guides to the modern visitor, directing him to the nearest mission site.
SAN DIEGO DE ALCALA Mission San Diego grew and prospered during the succeeding years. After the Republic of Mexico came into being, it fell on evil days, as did all the missions of California. Greedy civil administrations, covetous of mission lands and wealth, finally suceeded in passing a series of secularization decrees by which the missions passed into the hands of civil authorities. San Diego was sold and became a private residence for a time, later to become a military post. American troops were stationed there during the Mexican War. For several years thereafter it was neglected and began to crumble. In 1862 President Lincoln returned it to the Catholic Church. The mission as it stands today represents considerable restoration, though the facade is of original construction. The walltype bell tower is part of the careful restoration. It is now a public museum, a monument to Father Serra.
SAN LUIS REY DE FRANCIA
Moving north from San Diego to Oceanside, we come
to the second mission, San Luis Rey de Francia, founded
in 1798, the eighteenth one of the chain to be established.
It was named for the crusad [Continued on page 387]
Religion and romance, peace and plenty, call to the discerning cameraman along the Mission Trail
Photographs courtesy California Mission Trails Assoc.
SANTA BARBARA, Queen of the Missions, has seen uninterrupted religious use since its founding in 1782. Present building dates from 1812.