Karl F. Brown

“ On July 16th, 1769, sixteen days after his arrival in San Diego, Father Serra established the first mission in California—the Mission San Diego de Alcalá. The original site was unsatisfactory so a spot was later chosen six miles back from the ocean in Mission Valley where the present buildings now stand. San Diego was one of the wealthiest of the missions. It had extensive orchards and vineyards, irrigated by an aqueduct which brought water from the valley. ”

“ Its walls, six feet thick and mellowed by time, impart a lasting beauty. The bodies of over four thousand Indians lie in its tree-shadowed cemetery. In front of the Mission the trickling water from an old fountain gives one the restful feeling of the old Spanish siesta. It was at this mission that the great historian, Father Engelhardt, 33 wrote his great book, “Missions and Missionaries of California.”
La Purisima
Mission Santa Inéz was founded to convert the Indians who lived east of the Coast Range. ”

“ The long arcade that extends the whole length of the building, contains twenty arches. In the garden is a sundial, placed there by the padres. Its old cemetery is in an olive grove whose trees cast fantastic shadows on the time worn headstones. ”

“ At one time Mission San Fernando Rey de España had an Indian population of eleven hundred. Today nothing remains of the Mission but one large building. In it one can see the wine cellar and the large copper brandy still. Across the street is a large star-shaped fountain copied from one in Cordova, Spain, a monument to the artistic work of the Indians.
Detail of Façade, Santa Barbara
Half-way between San Diego and Monterey, Father Serra founded the Mission Buenaventura. ”

“ Begun in 1769, this chain of churches along El Camino Real was complete by 1823, and in these establishments the devoted followers of Padre Junípero Serra sought to win for Christ and the Crown of Spain devotees among the dusky inhabitants of this land. How well they succeeded 6 may be judged when we learn that often in the more prosperous missions as many as two thousand Indians were being trained at one time. ”

“ Bell Tower, San Diego De Alcalá
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Bell Tower, San Antonio De Pala
This was the happy pattern of life that obtained in these picturesque missions which at once comprised the early churches, the first schools, the first factories and the work-a-day habitations of 9 the priests and their charges. Viewed in this light these old buildings become real human documents and are therefore very precious to all interested in the beginnings of civilization within our broad land.
Chapel, San Antonio De Pala ”

“ It was commonly called Dolores after a small river that flowed through the Mission grounds. It is quite different in its architecture from the other missions. It has neither archway nor towers but a massive façade. Today it stands in quiet simplicity, surrounded on all sides by modern buildings of the Catholic Church.
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Bell Tower, San Carlos De Borromeo
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Santa Cruz
In the city of San Rafael stands a mission bell guidepost, marking the site of Mission San Rafael Arcángel. ”