Misión Basilica San Diego de Alcalá

Throughout the eighteenth century, the Spanish Crown authorized the establishment of more than twenty churches across the area that comprises the state of California today. These institutions, along with the dozens of other churches already founded throughout the US-Southwest region, aimed to evangelize the native peoples. This complex targeted the nearby Kumeyaay peoples. Founded in 1769, the San Diego mission was the first of the California missions. It originally featured orchards, vineyards, agricultural fields, and pasture lands. Because it suffered damage from fire, attacks, and natural disasters throughout its history, the complex was restored and expanded. This source is part of the Historic Churches in the Southwestern US Source Collection.