Picture postcards became popular in America as souvenirs and message sending media in the late 19th c. Their low cost, portability, and accessibility allowed tourists to send greetings, share their excitement, and transmit memories; even to future generations. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History has a vast collection of postcards, and in this Guide we share early 20th c. images of the California Missions, landmarks of early Hispanic settlement in North America.

In 1769, under the direction of King Charles III of Spain, Father Junipero Serra (1713-1784), of the Spanish Franciscan order, was called upon to assist the colonization of Alta California, the area including the present day state of California. Mission San Diego de Alcalá was the first founded by Fr. Serra, in 1769. Mission San Diego was built to convert American Indians of the Kumeyaay tribe to Catholicism. In total, 21 Spanish Franciscan missions were established between 1769 and 1823.

Serra’s directive was to establish missions to assist the Roman Catholic conversion and control of the lands and native peoples. Mission San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo is located near the town of Monterey, the original capital of Spanish and later Mexican, California. It was the 2nd of 21 Spanish Franciscan missions founded in California between 1769 and 1823. It was established to convert American Indians of the Esselen and Ohlone, or Costanoan, tribes to Catholicism.

Mission San Antonio de Padua, founded in 1771, is located on the Salinas River south of King City, in Monterey County. It was the 3rd of 21 Spanish Franciscan missions established in California between 1769 and 1823, and was built to convert American Indians of the Salinan tribe to Catholicism. Today the mission serves a parish church.

Mission San Gabriel Arcángel was founded in 1771, near the city of Montebello, in Southern California. It was the 4th of 21 Spanish Franciscan missions founded in California between 1769 and 1823. The mission was established to convert American Indians of the Tongva tribe to Catholicism. It was moved in 1775 to its present location outside of downtown Los Angeles. After a disastrous arson in 2020, the church was renovated and the museum updated with experts from the Gabrieleño Tongva community.

Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, located in San Luis Obispo County, was founded in 1772 by Fr. Junípero Serra. It was the 5th of 21 Spanish Franciscan missions established in California between 1769 and 1823, and was built to convert American Indians of the Chumash tribe to Catholicism. Today the mission serves as a parish church.

Mission Dolores, originally Mission San Francisco de Asís, is the oldest surviving structure in San Francisco. Founded in 1776, the mission was the 6th of 21 Spanish Franciscan missions founded in CA between 1769 and 1823. It was established to support the conversion of American Indians of the Bay Miwok, Coast Miwok, and Patwin tribes to Catholicism. Today the site is run by the Sonoma State Historical Park system. Services are held in the mission building and the adjacent, more modern Basilica.

Mission San Juan Capistrano is located in the town of the same name. It was the 7th of 21 Spanish Franciscan missions established in California between 1769 and 1823, and was founded for the conversion to Catholicism of American Indians of the Luisen, or Juaneno, tribe. Today the mission compound includes a parish chapel and a museum.

The postcard represents daily life at the Mission Santa Clara soon after its founding in 1777. This was the 8th of 21 Spanish Franciscan missions built in California between 1769 and 1823. Established to convert American Indians of the Bay Miwok, Tamyen, or Costanoan, and Yokuts tribes to Catholicism, in 1851 the Mission was transferred to the Jesuits, who founded what is now Santa Clara University, one of the first two institutions of higher education in California.

Mission San Buenaventura is located in the city of Ventura. It was the 9th of 21 Spanish Franciscan missions established in California between 1769 and 1823, and was built to convert American Indians of the Chumash tribe to Catholicism.Today the mission serves as a parish church and a museum.