Starting as school children, Americans learn about the Founding Fathers… colonists such as Washington and Jefferson who led the revolution against Great Britain, leading to the independence of the United States of America.

The Founding Fathers, and the 13 original colonies they represented, gave birth to America’s language, culture, and political institutions. The colonies declared independence from Britain in 1776; by 1781, they had effectively won their war for independence, and America entered the world stage as a new nation.

But at the same time, on the other side of the continent, a different culture was evolving… a culture that would establish the foundations for what eventual became California, America’s most populous and richest state.

Starting in 1769, the Spanish government, working with the Franciscan order of the Catholic Church, began an expansion of Spain’s own colonies in Mexico. They began building a series of missions in what was then known as Alta California, starting in San Diego, and culmination with a mission at Sonoma, California, in 1823.

The 21 missions were connected by a trail known as El Camino Real (the King’s Highway), which became the route for California’s Highway 1, one of the state’s major highways. The missions grew into settlements, which grew into many of California’s most important cities… San Diego, Santa Barbara, San Jose, San Francisco, and even the communities of the Los Angeles basin.

More importantly, the early communities, made up of Spanish settlers and Indian neophytes, became the basis for California’s unique culture.

Spanish words are a part of California’s language… not just in place names, but also in terms like adobe, ranch (from the Spanish Rancho), padre, and pueblo.

Spanish architecture became synonymous with the California “mission” style, which is still seen throughout the state and the Southwestern United States.

Mexican dishes – tortillas, enchiladas, tamales, tacos and more – are eaten throughout the state.

One of the missions – San Francisco de Solano, at Sonoma, was the site of the Bear Flag Revolt in 1848, when California declared its independence from Mexico.

Today, the 21 missions can still be visited. Little remains of some, but others are actively used as churches, while one has been extensively reconstructed and is now a state historical park. Each offers unique insights into California’s culture and history.

The California Mission Guide provides historical and visitor information on each of the 21 missions, as well as the five presidios (military forts), and various asistencias and estancias. In addition, the site has classrooms aids and information for teachers.

Many of the California missions are also reviewed at RoadsideRatingz.com, where you can post your own ratings and reviews.

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