Founded in 1769 by Father Junipero Serra, what was the first mission in California?

On July 16, 1769, Spanish Franciscan priest Junípero Serra established the first of what would become a chain of 21 missions along the coast of California. This inaugural mission, named for Saint Didacus of Alcalá, was initially founded on Presidio Hill overlooking the bay. However, the location proved to be challenging due to an inadequate water supply and poor soil for farming. After five years, the mission was relocated six miles east to its current site in what is now known as Mission Valley. This new location offered closer proximity to the San Diego River and the Kumeyaay native villages, providing better access to water and more fertile land for agriculture.

The mission's early years were marked by conflict. In November 1775, local Kumeyaay people, resistant to Spanish colonization, attacked and burned the mission. During the raid, Father Luis Jayme was killed, becoming California's first Christian martyr. Father Serra returned to the site in 1776 to oversee the rebuilding efforts. The new complex was constructed with a high wall and laid out like a military fort to provide better protection against future attacks. Despite this turbulent start, the mission eventually grew to encompass thousands of acres, becoming a major agricultural center before falling into disrepair and later being used by the U.S. military. It was returned to the Catholic Church by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862 and fully restored in 1931.