Founded in 1771, the San Gabriel Mission is the 4th of the 21 California Missions to be established. Its bell tower and outside stairway are very different from the other Missions, as is its construction from stone, brick and mortar instead of adobe, and its Spanish-Moorish style of architecture. Be sure to visit the Mission Compound to see how life was lived so many years ago when residents made their own soap and candles from tallow, leather goods from cattle hides, wine from their own grapes, and everything else they needed to survive so far from any source of supply. In introducing vines and orange trees to the area, as well as other trees and plants, the Franciscan padres began the agricultural industry in Southern California.

San Gabriel grew to be the "Pride of the Missions" and supplied many of the other Missions and settlements with the necessities of life from its lands which stretched from the ocean to the mountains and east to the Riverside area. It was from the San Gabriel Mission that 11 families left on September 4, 1881, to found El Pueblo de la Reina de Los Angeles. (Mission open 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily except major holidays. For group tours call (626) 457-3048.)

Outside the Mission to the north is the Mission Cemetery where members of many pioneer families are buried. The pepper tree near the church door is the last of the original trees which once lined Mission Drive. The Camino Real Bell near it marks the King's Highway, which linked all the Missions in California.

Click to visit the San Gabriel Mission website