Mission San Antonio de Pala
Mission San Antonio de Pala was founded in 1816 by Fr. Antonio Peyri as an Asistencia (sub-mission) to the larger Mission San Luis Rey de Francia. The Franciscan fathers chose this site for the Pala Mission because it was a traditional gathering place and village for the Native American residents. Pala is unique among all of the Franciscan missions in that it boasts the only completely freestanding campanile, or bell tower, in all of Alta California. It received more than 1300 Indian converts before it fell into disrepair after secularization in 1846. It was partially restored in 1903 and fully restored in 1959. It is the only one of the original California missions still ministering to Native American People. It is a California Historical Landmark.
Pala, San Diego County
Images by Andrew Schmidt
Images by Al Russell