California Missions

Historic Missions of the El Camino Real, arranged geographically from South to north. All photos © Jim Shoemaker. All Rights Reserved. Any use without written permission of the photographer is prohibited. Click on thumbnail to see larger image on right. Click on larger image to see full size version. (More detail) Color, brightness and tonal quality will vary from monitor to monitor.

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San Diego was the first mission in the chain of the El Camino Real. It was founded in 1769. In 1774 the mission was moved 6 miles inland to it's present location to take advantage of better water resources. In 1775 there was an indian rebellion, in which the padre was killed and many of the mission buildings burned. A new mission was built in 1776. A series of four churches were constructed on the site as earthquakes knocked them down one after another. The final chuch declined quickly after secularization, and was eventually occupied by US troops in 1847. In 1862 the US government returned what remained of the mission to the Catholic church. Restoration began in 1866.

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San Diego was the first mission in the chain of the El Camino Real. It was founded in 1769. In 1774 the mission was moved 6 miles inland to it's present location to take advantage of better water resources. In 1775 there was an indian rebellion, in which the padre was killed and many of the mission buildings burned. A new mission was built in 1776. A series of four churches were constructed on the site as earthquakes knocked them down one after another. The final chuch declined quickly after secularization, and was eventually occupied by US troops in 1847. In 1862 the US government returned what remained of the mission to the Catholic church. Restoration began in 1866.

diego mission