Customer Reviews

California Missions and Presidios

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Of all the attempts to capture the beauty and rich history of the California Missions, only Leffingwell has succeeded. Over the past 15 years I have visited many of the missions and I always look for a book in the gift shops that shows the wonderful architecture and gardens of the missions, and gives an honest synopsis of the Alta California story. Until now I have found some great historical texts, but none with images worthy of the subject matter. This book has both. It is a coffee table must-have for anyone interested in California history.

Growing up in California, I received more than my quota of early California history. I was always impressed that the Spanish sought to establish missions to bring Jesus to the Native Americans as their primary activity in California.

That idealistic impulse ended up badly in many cases. Diseases carried by Europeans wiped out over 95 percent of the Native Americans near some of the missions. When the missions were established too close to the presidios and towns, soldiers and civilian Spaniards sometimes victimized the Native Americans. Not knowing about California's arid conditions, many missions had to be relocated several times until enough fresh water was located. In other cases, the missions were located on active earthquake faults and were shaken to the ground repeatedly. Fire wiped out some other missions.

Later, after Mexico won its independence, the missions were sold off for civilian use. Only after California became part of the United States did ownership revert to the church.

By then, there wasn't much left of the original mission buildings and contents. But dedicated Californians have labored long and faithfully to restore these missions, presidios, and forts to a good simulation of the original. It is those restorations and recreations that those who love California's missions have admired.

I remember as a youngster wanting to visit every single mission and to follow the route of Father Serra and those who succeeded him in the process. I haven't yet gotten around to fulfilling that desire. Naturally, I was delighted to find this book that allowed me to at least "see" the inside and out of each location on El Camino Real (the King's Highway along the coast of California).

Each site is wonderfully illustrated with many indoor and outdoor photographs. An extensive essay also describes the founding and subsequent history of each site through to today. Unlike some historical books that gloss over the problems, this one is quite candid. It gives you all the more reason to admire the fathers and neophytes who labored so hard to establish these Godly outposts.

Vaya con Dios!

Any interested in the history of missions in general and California's historic missions in particular will find this a lush guide which offers insights into the architecture and spiritual foundations of over twenty missions. These vary from small churches to elegant missions: the construction of each was influenced by local social and political as well as spiritual interests. California Missions And Presidios could have been featured in our Arts or Local History section but also deserves note by any interested in church history and creation.