Southern California Mission System

The Southern California Mission System was a network of Spanish missions established in the 18th and 19th centuries to colonize and convert Indigenous peoples to Christianity. Located mostly along present-day California, these missions served as centers for religious instruction, agriculture, and community development. They aimed to assimilate Native Americans into Spanish colonial culture, often disrupting their traditional lifestyles. Over time, many missions became important historical landmarks, reflecting the cultural and historical influences of Spanish colonization on California’s development.