U. S. Mission Trail / The Mission Trail Today - The Spanish Missions in California
Slide Show This site is owned, designed, and operated by Kenneth A. Larson who has over a quarter century of experience in design and construction of scenery for the Entertainment Industry and Theme Parks using Computer Aided and Traditional approaches to Design. Ken also has experience in other areas of Design.
Select photographs of my many visits to The Missions of the United States South and Southwest built by Spain and Mexico between 1565 and 1823.
All photographs taken by Kenneth A. Larson. All rights reserved. © 2008 - 2013.

Explanation.

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El Camino Real

El Camino Real ran approximately 600 miles from the Mexican border to Sonoma, connecting the 21 missions. In 1908, Mrs. Armitage S. C. Forbes commissioned a foundry to make El Camino Real Bells to commemorate the El Camino Real. Some were palced at otehr significant sites, such as the one at Campo de Cahuenga placed in 1910. Refugio trail was alternative to Gaviota Pass.
While modern Highway 101 approximately follows the historic El Camino Real, it often varies. El Camino Real was also not a single road. Some of the Missions were off on branches, there were good weather and bad weather routes. Often Highway 101 takes a different route such as between Mission San Fernando and San Buenaventura where El Camino Real ran through Santa Susana Pass and Simi Valley and Highway 101 runs ten miles south. At San Jose, Highway 101 turns west, but Mission San Jose is ten miles north and Highway 101 is many miles inland, east of Mission Carmelo and Santa Cruz along the coast. The beautiful and tranquil site of Mission San Antonio de Padua is a half hour drive off Highway 101. Then there are places where Highway 101 covers parts of the original El Camino Real.


San Luis Rey de Francia - El Camino Real Bell
Mission San Luis Rey de Francia

San Antonia de Pala - El Camino Real Bell
Mission San Antonio de Pala.
San Bernardino - El Camino Real Bell
Estancia San Bernardino. Photo date: 11-5-04.
San Bernardino - El Camino Real Bell
Estancia San Bernardino. Photo date: 11-5-04.
San Bernardino - El Camino Real Bell
Estancia San Bernardino. Photo date: 11-5-04.


This bell is inside the grounds of Campo de Cahuenga. Photo date: 10-16-04.

This bell is along Lankershim Bolevard at Campo de Cahuenga. Photo date: 1-16-05.

This bell is along Lankershim Bolevard at Campo de Cahuenga. Photo date: 1-16-05.
San Fernando - El Camino Real Bell
Mission San Fernando, Convento. Photo date: 10-16-99.
San Fernando - El Camino Real Bell
Mission San Fernando, Convento. Photo date: 10-29-04.

San Fernando - El Camino Real Bell
Mission San Fernando. Photo date: 10-29-04.

Mission San Fernando. Photo date: 12-7-04.


Mission San Fernando. Photo date: 12-7-04.

Mission San Fernando. Photo date: 12-7-04.


Mission San Fernando. Photo date: 12-7-04.

Mission San Fernando. Photo date: 12-7-04.


Mission San Fernando. Photo date: 12-7-04.

Mission San Fernando. Photo date: 12-7-04.

San Fernando - El Camino Real Bell
Photo date: 12-5-04.
San Fernando - El Camino Real Bell
Photo date: 12-5-04.

Strathern Historic Park - El Camino Real Bell
Strathern Historic Park. Photo Date: 8-9-03.
Mission San Buenaventura - El Camino Real Bell
Mission San Buenaventura. Statue, El Camino Real bell, chruch. Photo date: 8-29-04.
Mission San Buenaventura - El Camino Real Bell
Mission San Buenaventura. Statue and bell. Photo date: 8-29-04.
Santa Barbara County - El Camino Real Bell
Along Highway 101 in Santa Barbara County. Photo date: 9-11-04.
Santa Barbara County - El Camino Real Bell
Along Highway 101 in Santa Barbara County. Photo date: 9-26-04.
Santa Barbara - El Camino Real Bell
Mission Santa Barbara. 9-14-03.
Santa Barbara - El Camino Real Bell
Mission Santa Barbara. 7-30-01.
Santa Barbara - El Camino Real Bell
Mission Santa Barbara, Statue. Photo date: 5-15-04.
Santa Barbara - El Camino Real Bell
Mission Santa Barbara, Bell. Photo date: 8-7-04.
Santa Barbara - El Camino Real Bell
Mission Santa Barbara - El Camino Real Bell and Statue. Photo date: 5-15-04.
Santa Barbara - El Camino Real Bell
Mission Santa Barbara - El Camino Real Bell and Statue. Photo date: 5-15-04.
Santa Barbara - El Camino Real Bell
Mission Santa Barbara - El Camino Real Bell and Statue. Photo date: 6-26-04.
Santa Barbara - El Camino Real Bell
Mission Santa Barbara - El Camino Real Bell. Photo date: 8-7-04.
Mission Santa Ines - El Camino Real Bell
Mission Santa Iness. Photo date: 4-3-04.

San Juan Bautista - El Camino Real Bell
San Juan Bautista. Photo date: 5-29-04.

Morgan Hill - El Camino Real Bell
Morgan Hill. Photo date: 5-29-04.
Morgan Hill - El Camino Real Bell
Morgan Hill. Photo date: 5-29-04.
Santa Clara - El Camino Real Bell
Mission Santa Clara
Missions Santa Clara - El Camino Real Bell
Missions Santa Clara - El Camino Real Bell. Photo date: 5-31-04
Missions Santa Clara - El Camino Real Bell
Missions Santa Clara - El Camino Real Bell. Photo date: 5-31-04
Mission San Rafael
Mission San Rafael. Bell and Sign with cross beyond. South side of church to right. Photo date: 2-7-04.
Sonoma - El Camino Real Bell
Sonoma. Photo date: 5-29-04.
San Francisco Solano - El Camino Real Bell
San Francisco Solano. Photo date: 5-29-04.
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Sources:

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This page last updated: Sunday, 13-Dec-2020 22:47:51 CST
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