The yellow circles on the map to the left represent the twenty-one Spanish Missions in California. Click on one for more information on that mission!

This mission was founded by Father Serrá on September 8, 1771, but it didn't stay where he had planned. The mission moved three times before it came to its current location. It was the fourth mission to be founded, and it was named after the Archangel Gabriel. A famous legend from this mission is that when a group of attacking natives got to the church, a frightened priest held up a painting of Our Lady of Sorrows (Virgin Mary). The natives were allegedly so awe-struck that they stopped the attack and laid necklaces down on the altar as gifts. Fact or fiction, the painting is still at the mission today.