Mission San Diego de Alcala 

Mission San Diego de Alcala (USA) – description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Reviews of tourists, photos and videos.

San Diego de Alcala was the first Franciscan mission in the province of Las Californias of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. It was founded in 1769 by the Spanish monk Junipero Serra on lands that belonged to the Kumeyaai Indians. Today the mission is listed as a National Historic Landmark.

In 1834, the mission was confiscated, like all others, by decree of the Governor of Figueroa. Any local with enough money could buy the missionaries’ former property, so their land quickly went to ranches. Missions were bought mainly by former military officers who fought against Spain in the war of independence. And the mission of San Diego de Alcala in 1846 was given by the governor of Pio Pico into the hands of Santiago Arguello for use for state needs, and after the annexation of California to the United States, it was used by the army until 1862.

In 1976, Pope Paul VI granted the local church the status of a minor basilica.

When President Lincoln returned all missions to Catholics in 1862, San Diego de Alcala was in ruins. In 1880, they began to restore it, but business moved slowly and at the beginning of the 20th century. froze until 1931

In 1941 the mission became a parish church and is still used in this capacity. In 1976, Pope Paul VI granted the local church the status of a minor basilica. Today, the mission subsists in part on the proceeds of a small gift shop that is open here.

Practical information

The mission is located within the boundaries of the current city, near the intersection of Interstate 8 and Interstate 15, approximately one and a half kilometers east of the Qualcomm stadium. The territory and buildings can be independently inspected after a small donation.