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| Landmark #242 | San Diego County | Visited: April 21, 2013 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | The refurbished 1st mission (of 21) founded by Father Junípero Serra! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: On Sunday, July 16, 1769, Fathers Junípero Serra, Juan Vizcaino, and Fernando Parrón raised and blessed a cross to establish Alta California’s first mission. Relocated from Presidio Hill to this site in August 1774, the mission was the Mother of those founded in California by the Franciscan Order. The present buildings, first completed in 1813, were rebuilt in stages from 1915 to 1931 after many years of deterioration. They have been in use as a parish church since February 1941.
OTHER TIDBITS: Junípero Serra, native to the island of Majorca, arrived in San Diego July 1, 1769, and it took him just over two weeks to set up the prototype of this grand mission! Named for Saint Didacus of Alcalá, patron of Franciscan lay folk, this site turned out not to be so great for water supply and relations with the Kumeyaay, so Fathers Serra and Luis Jayme moved their mission north to the Kumeyaay village of Nipaguay. Things here went smoothly until a revolt of 800 Kumeyaay neophytes on the night of November 4, 1775, which killed Father Jayme, who is still buried here. The attack led Father Serra to return and fortify the mission with high walls! Never a wealthy mission, Mission San Diego de Alcalá relied heavily on grain contributions from other missions, but with their dam and flume system providing water, they did raise a lot of horses, mules, and California’s first olives!This landmark is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: Mission San Diego de Alcala 10818 San Diego Mission Rd San Diego, CA 92108 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~120mi (194km) — 2hrs |
| When should I go? | The Mission is open daily from 9:00 AM until 4:30 PM! |
