Ten miles northeast of Los Angeles is the village of San Gabriel. It gets its name from this famous old Spanish mission. Much of the early exploration of our country, and many settlements were made by missionaries. One of the chief purposes of Columbus in trying to find the Indies was to convert the natives to Christianity. "To Christianize, to civilize, to colonize" was the Spanish motto. Priests accompanies most Spanish exploring parties. When De Soto made his famous march to the Mississippi, priests were in the forefront of the band of warriors. French priests sailed the rivers of lower Canada, and explored the Great Lake region ahead of hunters and trappers. Father Marquette was the first white man to sail down the Mississippi from its upper reaches. Everywhere they went, these priests taught the Indians, and did much toward their civilization. From Florida westward there is a wide

trail of missions founded by Spanish priests. In southern California many such churches with their little Indian communities sprang up. Some of these are now the sites of great cities. There was usually a central mission with branch missions or chapels near by. San Gabriel was a central mission. The first settlement at Los Angeles was a chapel founded by San Gabriel. It was called, "Our Lady, Queen of the Angels". "Los Angeles" means "of the Angels". The San Gabriel Mission was established in 1771-5 years before the Declaration of Independence was signed. The view shows its famous belfry with its many bells, and the fine old garden. You will observe the heavy upright buttress to support the walls. This kind of building is common to most southwestern missions. It is so common that it has become a style of architecture.