Mission facts for kids

A mission is like a special job or an important journey someone takes. It can be a big task that a group of people works on together.

Do you want to know about the California Missions? Great! There are 21 of these famous missions. A priest named Father Junipero Serra helped build all 21 of them a long time ago.

What is a Mission?

A mission is often a specific goal or a journey with a clear purpose. It can be something a person or a group sets out to do. For example, a space mission is when a spacecraft travels to outer space to explore. A diplomatic mission is when people from one country go to another country to talk and work together.

Different Kinds of Missions

While the California Missions are historical buildings, the word "mission" can mean other things too:

• Space Missions: These are journeys into space, like when astronauts go to the Moon or a probe travels to Mars. They have a goal, like exploring a planet or putting a satellite into orbit.
• Diplomatic Missions: When a country sends representatives to another country, they set up a diplomatic mission. This is like an office where they work to keep good relationships between the two countries.
• Military Missions: Sometimes, a military group has a specific task to complete, which is called a military mission. This could be helping people, providing aid, or keeping peace.

The California Missions

The California Missions are a series of 21 religious outposts built by Spanish priests in California. They were built between 1769 and 1833. Their main purpose was to spread the Christian faith and to help Spain claim the land.

Who Built Them?

Father Junipero Serra was a very important person in building the first nine California Missions. He was a Spanish Franciscan friar. The missions were built by Native Americans who lived in the area, often under the guidance of the friars.

Where Are They?

The 21 California Missions are spread out along the coast of California, from San Diego in the south to Sonoma in the north. They are about a day's walk or horseback ride apart.

• Mission San Diego de Alcalá (the first mission)
• Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo
• Mission San Antonio de Padua
• Mission San Gabriel Arcángel
• Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
• Mission San Francisco de Asís (also known as Mission Dolores)
• Mission San Juan Capistrano
• Mission Santa Clara de Asís
• Mission San Buenaventura
• Mission Santa Bárbara
• Mission La Purísima Concepción
• Mission Santa Cruz
• Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad
• Mission San José
• Mission San Juan Bautista
• Mission San Miguel Arcángel
• Mission San Fernando Rey de España
• Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
• Mission Santa Inés
• Mission San Rafael Arcángel
• Mission San Francisco Solano (the last mission built)

Other Places Named Mission

Many places around the world are named "Mission" because of their history, often linked to religious missions or important tasks.

In the United States

• Mission, Kansas
• Mission, Oregon
• Mission, South Dakota
• Mission, Texas
• Mission Ridge Ski Area, Washington

In Canada

• Mission, British Columbia, a town in British Columbia
• Mission, Calgary, a neighborhood in Calgary, Alberta
• Okanagan Mission, a neighborhood in Kelowna, British Columbia, often called "the Mission"

In South America

• Argentina: Misiones Province
• Brazil: Missões, Brazil, a region where old colonial missions were located.
  • São Miguel das Missões, one of the best preserved old missions.
• Paraguay: Misiones Department