Page last updated: July 5, 2022
All glass plate photographs by Harold A. Taylor. Digital images copyright © 2022 by Pinyon Publishing. No reproduction without permission.
Missions Home North to South: Dolores Santa Cruz San Juan Bautista Monterey Carmel
San Antonio de Padua San Miguel San Luis Obispo Santa Ines Santa Barbara-Glass SB-Celluloid
San Buenaventura San Fernando Rey de Espana San Gabriel Arcangel San Juan Capistrano
California Missions
~ Artistically documented architecture in various states of restoration ~
Early 20th century glass plate (plus a few celluloid) photographs of 13 of the 21 California Missions founded in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
North to South (Number of glass plate photographs):
Single photograph of the front of the mission which was originally founded as San Francisco de Asis in 1776. Long known as Dolores, named for the arroyo that fed a nearby lake.
Santa Cruz (1)
Single photograph of an illustrated postcard representation of this mission which, founded in 1791, suffered collapse of the church tower in an 1857 earthquake, and was rebuilt in 1889.
Three views of this mission founded in 1797.
Built in 1770 as the cornerstone of the mission that was later moved to Carmel. The oldest continuously functioning and first stone building in California.
Carmel (10)
The “most beautiful mission,” founded in 1770 at the presidio of Monterey then moved to the Carmel Valley the following year.
San Antonio de Padua (2 glass + 3 celluloid)
Repeat images in glass and celluloid of this mission founded in 1771, dedicated to the patron saint of the poor.
San Miguel (6)
Though some parts of this 1797 mission were destroyed in a fire and rebuilt, the original 12-arch arcade seen in these images survives.
San Luis Obispo (1)
Founded in 1772. Single image of a doorway.
Santa Ines (4)
Sun-spattered images of this mission founded in 1804 on fertile inland soils.
Santa Barbara Glass (22)
Glass and celluloid images from this “Queen of the Missions” founded in 1786.
San Buenaventura (Ventura) (5)
Doorways into this mission founded in 1782.
San Fernando Rey de Espana (4)
A taste of this 1797 mission built against the backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains.
San Gabriel Arcangel (14)
Palms, stairways, and bells of this 1771 mission, 9 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
San Juan Capistrano (60)
Founded in 1776, one of the most prosperous missions in its time. Before modern restoration, HT’s photographs capture arches and columns crumbling amongst vegetation.
