The Missions of California

The classic photography book and guide The Missions of California is now revised and updated with new photographs. This is a photographic survey of each of California's 21 missions. Conceived by Spanish friars, built by Native Indian laborers, and preserved and restored by architects and historians, the missions are a unique treasure of California's history, visited by tens of thousands of Californians and tourists each year. This book recounts the history and architectural contributions of each mission, and examines the impact of the missions on their surrounding areas. For the third edition, we are replacing 32 of the photographs with new images, and updating the text, to reflect the mission's continuing role in the life of California.