Charts the histories of the missions of San Gabriel Arcangel, San Buenaventura, and San Fernando Rey de Espana, and briefly describes life among the Tongva (Gabrielino) and Chumash Indians before the arrival of the Spaniards.

After establishing the settlement of San Francisco, visionary mission president Fr. Junipero Serra journeyed south to found Mission San Juan Capistrano, Alta Californias seventh, on November 1, 1776. By order of King Carlos III of Spain, El Pueblo de la Reina de los ngeles (the Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels) was founded on September 4, 1781, following the recommendation of the first California governor, Felipe de Neve. At nearby Mission San Gabriel Arcngel, de Neve gathered a group of 11 men, 11 women, and 22 children, soldiers, mission priests, and a few Indians and traveled nine miles to the banks of the Los Angeles River, blessing the new site. By 1800, the city of Los Angeles had a population of 300 with a meeting hall, guardhouse, army barracks, and granary. Built a days journey apart on El Camino Real, the Mission San Fernando Rey de Espaa was dedicated on September 8, 1797, and completed the lineage of Californias monumental landmark missions near Los Angeles.

The story of the missions is a compelling human drama that is a vital piece not only of California history, but also of American history. Indeed, many keys to California's past lie in the stories of the 20 missions that stretch along the state's west coast from San Diego to San Francisco. This vital series is compatible with the mission-based curriculum used in fourth-grade California classrooms. It resonates equally with all social studies programs that explore the defunct notion of colonialism and its controversial role in the history of the United States, and with curricula that seek to explore the interaction of different cultures and the rights and voices of indigenous peoples.

Go back in time to learn more about the Spanish missionaries who came to California in the 1700s and how the mission system shaped California's history. Each book in this series examines a region of California that was greatly influenced by missions. Missions introduced in Los Angeles Area Missions include: Mission San Gabriel Arc'ngel, Mission San Buenaventura, and Mission San Fernando Rey de Espa'a. In this title, you'll learn about the Native Americans living in the Los Angeles area before missionaries arrived; why missionaries chose this area and what happened when they arrived; how the missionaries designed and built the missions; what daily life was like at the missions; what happened to cause the end of each mission; and what the missions look like today. This series also includes California Mission Projects and Layouts, which provides directions for creating models of missions. Get ready for Exploring California Missions

After establishing the settlement of San Francisco, visionary mission president Fr. Junipero Serra journeyed south to found Mission San Juan Capistrano, Alta Californias seventh, on November 1, 1776. By order of King Carlos III of Spain, El Pueblo de la Reina de los ngeles (the Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels) was founded on September 4, 1781, following the recommendation of the first California governor, Felipe de Neve. At nearby Mission San Gabriel Arcngel, de Neve gathered a group of 11 men, 11 women, and 22 children, soldiers, mission priests, and a few Indians and traveled nine miles to the banks of the Los Angeles River, blessing the new site. By 1800, the city of Los Angeles had a population of 300 with a meeting hall, guardhouse, army barracks, and granary. Built a days journey apart on El Camino Real, the Mission San Fernando Rey de Espaa was dedicated on September 8, 1797, and completed the lineage of Californias monumental landmark missions near Los Angeles.

The missions and presidios of California are among the state’s oldest structures and are the most visited historical monuments. These notable buildings are an integral part of California’s history. The state’s recorded history essentially began with the Spanish missions along the ambitious chain of 21 missions on El Camino Reál (The Royal Highway) and the men who founded them. California Missions and Presidios is a gorgeous book that presents the history of these intriguing sanctuaries of peace and beauty. The eye-popping photography of Alastair Worden and Randy Leffingwell captures their unique character, while Leffingwell’s accessible text brings to life the overall history of California’s conquest by the Spanish; the construction and operation of the missions, presidios, ranchos, and adobes; and the background of the mission architecture and style. Seemingly unchanged, these missions and presidios have survived the centuries remarkably well—still welcoming visitors as a refuge of serenity and splendor while providing a glimpse into the lives of the spirited pioneers who built these structures and lived and worked there.