San Diego de Alcalá

The Mission San Diego de Alcalá was the first of 21 Spanish missions established in California by Franciscan friar Junípero Serra. Founded in 1769, it was part of Spain's effort to settle Alta California and convert Native Americans to Christianity. The missions served as centers for agriculture and crafts, teaching farming and trades to the Indigenous people, often through forced labor. These missions played a significant role in Spain's control over the region and introduced European crops and livestock. While Serra is revered by some as the "Apostle of California," his legacy is debated due to the impact of colonization and the treatment of Indigenous peoples.12