San Diego de Alcala was the first mission established by the
Spanish in July of 1769. Father Junipero Serra built the mission
on the Presidio Hill overlooking the Bay next to the Spanish
fort. Initially the natives feared the Spanish, particularly the
soldiers. In 1774, Father Serra moved the mission six miles up
river away from the fort. In 1775 the native Indians
attacked the
mission, setting fire to it and killing three men including
Father Luis Jayme. The Spanish soldiers broke up the attack. The
missionaries had to move back to Presidio Hill, but the Indians
now realized they needed to live peacefully with their Spanish
neighbors.
The missionaries began to attract and convert natives to
Christianity. By 1790 the church was restored with the help of
the natives. Unfortunately, an earthquake in 1803 destroyed the
church. The new church was completed in 1813. The mission
continued to grow and prosper until the 1830's.
After secularization the mission buildings were stripped of
their tiles for neighboring settlements, and then quickly
deteriorated. The U.S. Army occupied the church, using it as
barracks from 1846 to 1860. The church decayed for many years
until the late 1920's when it was restored. |
