Spanish colonists established a number of missions in the Western Hemisphere to promote the Roman Catholic faith among the Native peoples, although an underlying motive was convert the Natives to Spanish speaking vassals loyal to Spain.

Missions reached what is now the American Southwest starting with the Rio Grande Valley in the 16th century. In 1769, the first mission was established in California.

On this page I have a number of pictures taken of various missions that survive in California from San Diego to Sonoma. I have been ... (more)