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California's
21 Spanish missions make up some of the state's richest historical landmarks
and provide a rare insight into it's Spanish heritage. These missions
were begun in 1769 by Father Junipero Serra and they stretch 650 miles
along the El Camino Real (King's Highway) from San Diego to north of San
Francisco. Aside from promoting Christianity, one of the functions
of the mission chain was to provide safe havens for people traveling through
untamed California in the early 19th century. Thus, they were established
along the highway in areas so that a rider on horseback would be able to
reach each one by the end of a day's ride. |
