Mission San Diego de Alcalá
10818 San Diego Mission Road, San Diego, CA 92108
Tel: 619-281-8449
Visit Website
The inauspicious founding of the first of the twenty-one California missions took place on a hill overlooking the bay of San Diego. Father Junipero Serra blessed the ground, erected a cross, and celebrated a Mass dedicating this first mission to St. Didacus of Alcala, Spain. In 1770, Father Serra left to establish a second mission in Monterey. Father Luis Jayme became the second pastor and, in 1774, sought permission to move the mission six miles inland to be closer to the San Diego River, with more fertile soil, and the Native American villages. The presidio and most of the military remained at the original site.
Father Jayme had established a rapport with the Kumeyaay Indians and the new location held promises of future success until two of the local Kumeyaay Indians became disenchanted with the Spanish presence. They gathered 600-800 Indians from the deserts to the east and descended upon the mission in the middle of the night of November 4, 1775. Father Jayme was killed, along with two others, and the mission was burned to the ground. Father Jayme became California's first Christian martyr. Eventually, Father Serra returned to rebuild the mission.
Mission San Diego continued to struggle. In the late 1770s, Father Fermin Francisco de Lasuen, the third pastor, became frustrated with his inability to build a successful mission. He was the only priest assigned to the mission but once asked to be relieved of his duties as pastor. Despite his frustrations, through dedication and perseverence, he devised a system whereby the Kumeyaay remained in their villages and came to stay at the mission on a rotating basis. The mission slowly turned around, and gained even more success at the turn of century by dealing in animal hides.
As with other missions, the end of its way of life began with Mexican Independence. After the Decree of Secularization in 1834, the mission era was all but over. The last Franciscan left Mission San Diego in 1835. Today, Mission San Diego thrives as an active parish owned and operated by the Diocese of San Diego.
Landmark Status
California Historic Landmark #242
City of San Diego Historic Designation #113
Directions to the Mission
From north: I-5 South to I-805 South to I-52 East to I-15 South. Exit Friars Road and turn left. Turn right on Rancho Mission Road at first signal and left on San Diego Mission Road. Mission is one half block on the left.
From Downtown San Diego: Proceed west on I-8. Exit at Mission Gorge Road. Turn left at signal and proceed on Mission Gorge. Turn left on Twain Avenue, which becomes Mission Road. The mission is on the right. Map
Hours of Operation
9:00a - 4:45p daily.
Facilities
Visitors Center
Museum
Gardens open to all visitors
Handicap accessible
