The origin of the 21 Missions of California isn’t quite so spiritual. In fact, after Juan Cabrillo “discovered” San Diego Bay, Spain largely ignored Alta California for over 200 years! Then, when they heard that Russia had moved into Alaska, they permitted a group of Franciscan monks to journey north and establish Spanish presence and influence among the native people. The missions were secularized when Mexico declared independence from Spain, then fell to disrepair. Many of them have been rebuilt, but some are just plaques.