Alta California

Thanks to our Dana Point hosts, we enjoyed a thoroughly interesting visit to one of the oldest missions in Alta California ("upper California"), the mission of San Juan Capristrano.

 SJC was founded in the mid-1700s by Spanish Catholics during a period when this area was considered the domain of the Spanish Monarchy.  When the mission was founded about 500 native people lived in the area and the goal at the mission was to convert, education and "civilize" these people.  Over the next 40-80 years over 5000 local souls were converted....  The mission is still active today, not only as a museum to visit, but as an educational center.   

,

SJC was just one of 21 missions along "El Caminio Real"  (see map) New boundaries were created after the Mexican-American War in the mid-1800s and Alta California became part of the USA, and most of the missions gradually became ruins.  These missions are historically and architecturally interesting, of course, only recently have been recognized as worthy of attention and funding for restoration. 

If this subject interests you read more here: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_missions_in_California