One of the most beautiful of the California Missions is found in Oceanside. The Mission San Luis Rey Mission celebrates its 225th anniversary since its dedication in 1798, 52 years before California became a state.
By 1798, seventeen Franciscan missions had already been sited and established from San Diego to San Francisco. Spanish Missionaries who were tasked with establishing these sites were were looking for suitable locations that met certain criteria such as a water supply, building materials, and good soil for crops and livestock. The route the Franciscan’s traversed would be known as “El Camino Real,” translated “the Royal Road. It extended over 600 miles, connecting 21 missions and is considered one of the earliest roads or highways in California.
