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San Diego de Alcala

By: Tagintsev Artur

California's twenty-one Spanish missions make up some of the state's riches historical landmarks. These missions, which Spanish priests founded, about day's journey away, were built from San Diego to Sonoma, California. One of this missions was San Diego de Alcala. It was the first mission founded by Father Junipero Serra, on July 16, 1769 in San Diego. It was named for the nearby bay. The name of Saint Didacus of Alcala had been given to the bay 167 years earlier by the Spanish explorer, Sebastian Vizcaino.

Father Luis Jayme took charge of the tiny mission when Father Serra moved north to establish more missions. They soon realize that the site was much too close to the military fort, which made their job even harder. In 1774, mission was moved about six miles inland, closer to water and farming fields. In 1775, several hundred Indian braves attacked the mission to steal what they could find. In the midst of the attack, Indians killed Father Luis Jayme and burned the mission to the ground. By 1776, a church with stone foundations and some other buildings were completed. In 1780, the church was enlarged and given adobe walls. Most of the mission was rebuilt by 1785.

Mission San Diego is sometimes reffered to as the Plymouth Rock of the West Coast. The first seeds of the agriculture were planted at mission San Diego, which laid the foundations for the great agricultural state that California is today.

In 1795, a system of aqueducts began to bring water to the mission and the fields. By 1797 the mission had 50, 000 acres of land growing wheat, barley, corn and beans. They also had vineyards of grapes, orchards, and vegetable gardens.

In 1803 an earthquake destroyed all the mission buildings. The patient, hard working priests once again, simply began to rebuild the mission. In 1813 new church was completed and blessed by Fathers. By 1824 mission San Diego reached it's largest population. 1,829 Indians lived there.

The last regular report of mission San Diego said the Fathers baptized 6,522 people since 1769. The first baptism of Indian was performed in April of 1770. He was a 3 year old boy. Fathers changed his name to Francisco Antonio. They also performed 1,803 marriages and 4,332 funeral services.

In 1848 California became part of the United States and American priests took over. In 1853 Archbishop Alemany claimed the mission for Catholic church.

Padre's Room

Altar

One of the bells is original. It is one of the larger bells and it is distinguishable because it has a crown on top of it, dated 1802.

All five bells are rung unison only once a year and that is on the birthday of the mission.

Bells were extremely important in mission days; they were used as clock signifying when it was time to eat, pray, work or play.

This fountain is located in the courtyard and IS NOT original to the mission. But it represents a site where an original water cistern was located.

Building each mission was a long and challenging task. Everyday was a learning experience for the padres, who were learning many things from the Indians and for Indians who were learning new and different things from padres. Only mutual respect and cooperation of these great institutions would thrive and build a cornerstone for this great state of California.

Everyday as the bells rang out for attention, people would go to their particular tasks. The men were taught how to plow, plant, cultivate and reap. They were also taught how to make adobe bricks, build structures, candles from animal fat and soap. Taking care of livestock was also to be learned.

Women took care of children. Learned to work with wool and take care of clothing, and prepare food. They also continued to make wonderful tightly woven baskets as they had learned to do before the Spanish arrived.

Children would spend their days with their lessons. They also assisted their parents and padres with adobe making, tending to the animals and crops. They continued with their native games and customs.

Life on mission compound afforded many new and different learning experiences.

The End