Title supplied by cataloger. Mission San Diego de Alcala, also known as San Diego Mission, is located at 10818 San Diego Mission Road. It was established on May 14, 1769 and founded on July 16th of the same year by Father Junipero Serra, serving as the headquarters of the Alta California Mission System from 1769 to 1771. This was the first of the 21 missions founded by Serra, and was California's first church. The Mission was originally built overlooking the bay, but remained there only five years as the water supply was not sufficient for sustaining the crops, the soil was not fertile enough, and the American Indians were intimidated by the military. The decision to relocate the Mission six miles east was approved and the new site was closer to the San Diego River and the American Indian villages. Unfortunately this new location proved to be a bit problematic, as the land was difficult to till and the water was not always plentiful. But with perseverance, the Mission eventually became more productive. Over the years, the church was enlarged to accommodate the growing population. In 1931, the Mission was rebuilt to mirror the 1813 church structure. On April 15, 1970, Mission San Diego de Alcala was designated a National Historic Landmark, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places - #70000144. It was also designated a California Historical Landmark - #242, and a City of San Diego Historic Designation - #113. In 1976, Pope Paul VI designated Mission San Diego de Alcala as a Minor Basilica. Today this Mission serves as an active Catholic parish and cultural center. View of the Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá facade in a state of deterioration. The San Diego mission is located along the historic El Camino Real, at 10818 San Diego Mission Road, San Diego, CA 92108. Photograph circa 1915.
Type
image
Format
1 negative : safety ; 25 x 20 cm. Photographic safety negatives
Serra, Junipero,--Saint,--1713-1784 San Diego Mission Missions, Spanish Catholic Church Church buildings Church bells Architecture, Spanish colonial Adobe buildings Historic buildings Historic sites National Historic Landmarks California Historical Landmarks Trees El Camino Real (Calif.) San Diego (Calif.)
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