Mission San Luis Rey

Category: Attractions

Mission San Luis Rey is the second of the famous missions established along San Diego's legendary El Camino Real (and the 18th of a total 21 built in colonial Alta California). Designed to be a single day's walk apart, the missions created a vital chain throughout the territory for the Catholic Church. Powerful and ambitious, the church set out to convert the local Native Americans while creating a permanent presence in what was then Spanish territory.

Founded by Father Lausen and carefully nurtured by Father Peyri (its first superior), the mission was dedicated on June 13, 1798 and hosted the baptism of 43 Luiseno Indians that same day. At the time of its initial construction, Mission San Luis Rey was the largest building in both Baja and Alta California. Faced with burnt brick and roofed with the orange-hued tile synonymous with "mission" style architecture, the original structure (which survives to this day) was flanked by grounds that included a sunken garden, a complicated irrigation system, gracious interior arches and artwork.

Still a working parish (owned and operated by the Franciscan Friars), the mission invites the public to freely explore the buildings and grounds as well as attend mass. The Mission Museum houses a fine collection of artifacts specific to mission life in early California, including important pieces from Native American, Spanish Military and religious communities. When wandering the gardens, take note of the massive pepper tree in the western enclosure; planted by Father Peyri, the tree is the sole survivor of a row outside the cloister that were planted with seeds brought from South American by a visiting sailor. -- Lisa Galloway