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Pala in San Diego County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

La Asistencia de San Antonio de Pala

La Asistencia de San Antonio de Pala Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker

1. La Asistencia de San Antonio de Pala Marker

Inscription.
Notable for its bell-tower or campanile. The chapel was built by Father Peyri, 1816. Almost destroyed by earthquake and storm, but later restored. Indians are still at Pala.

Erected by Department of Public Works - Division of Highways. (Marker Number 243.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1816.

Location. 33° 21.836′ N, 117° 4.551′ W. Marker is in Pala, California, in San Diego County. It is on State Highway 76 east of Lilac Extension Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pala CA 92059, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Peninsular Ranges.

It is also in the American Borderlands

and on the Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically,

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it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Mission San Antonio de Pala (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Great Oak (approx. 5½ miles away); Patricia H. Birdsall (approx. 6.3 miles away); Cowboys (approx. 8 miles away); The Butterfield Overland Mail Route (approx. 8 miles away); Emigrants (approx. 8 miles away); Native Americans (approx. 8 miles away); The Bunkhouse (approx. 8 miles away).

More about this marker. The Mission grounds are located 4 blocks north of the marker.

Additional keywords. California Historical Landmark 243

Asistencia de San Antonio Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, August 11, 2007

2. Asistencia de San Antonio Marker

Entrance Sign at 3015 Pala Mission Road image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, August 11, 2007

3. Entrance Sign at 3015 Pala Mission Road

La Asistencia de San Antonio de Pala image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, August 11, 2007

4. La Asistencia de San Antonio de Pala

Mission San Antonio de Pala image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, August 11, 2007

5. Mission San Antonio de Pala

Founded in 1816 by Fr. Antonio Peyri, O.F.M. as an Asistencia (Sub-Mission) to the larger Mission San Luis Rey. This mission was very prosperous. It received more than 1300 Indian converts until the beginning of its decline after secularization by the Mexican government in 1846 and the church buildings fell into disrepair. Partially restored in 1903, the restoration of the original quadrangle was completed in 1959. The mission is the only one of the original California missions still ministering to the Native American people. The chapel and museum wing are original. Extensive restoration of the chapel was made necessary in 1992 because of termite damage which weakened the roof.

Mission Chapel and Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, August 11, 2007

6. Mission Chapel and Museum

The church has historical Indian paintings and the original floor... The museum is housed in the original west wing of the Mission and has a rich display of old Indian artifacts, statues and important relics that were in the church when it was founded in 1816 by Father Antonio Peyri.

Mission Chapel image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, August 11, 2007

7. Mission Chapel

Mission of San Antonio de Pala image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, August 11, 2007

8. Mission of San Antonio de Pala

Officially founded at Pala on 13 June 1816, this mission has become the mother church of Catholicism at Cahuiilla, La Jolla, Pauma, Pichanga, Rincon, Santa Rosa, and Temecula in Southern California. Consequently, on this 180th anniversary, the Alhambrans of Ben Ziri Caravan, No. 218, are happy to recognize this mission as a Catholic historical site.

Erected in 1996 by the International Order of Alhambrans.

The Tower image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, August 11, 2007

9. The Tower

The original Bell Tower is a copy of the tower in Ciudad Juarez, Chi., Mexico. It is unusual in being completely detached form the church building. The two bells were cast in Mexico. The larger bell is dedicated to St. Francis St. Luis the King, St. Clare, and St. Eulalia. It names the marker as Cervantes. The smaller bell bears a dedication to Jesus and Mary.

Pala Campanile image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, August 11, 2007

10. Pala Campanile

The Bells image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, August 11, 2007

11. The Bells

The bells are rung only on Sundays to summon the Faithful to Mass, funerals, weddings, to notify the local people of a death in the community, and in emergencies. Visitors are asked to refrain from attempting to ring the bells out of respect for the local custom.

The Cactus image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, August 11, 2007

12. The Cactus

Atop the Bell Tower, the visitor will notice a cactus. A legend says that Fr. Peyri climbed the tower in 1816 to place a cross atop it to indicate that the construction of the Mission was now complete. he then planted a tiny cactus at the foot of the cross to symbolize that Christ would conquer the desert, not only of Southern California, but also of the human heart and soul.

The Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, August 11, 2007

13. The Cemetery

This is the original Mission cemetery. Here are buried the remains of hundreds of Native American converts to Catholicism as well as other early California pioneers.

The Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, August 11, 2007

14. The Cemetery

Pala Campanile image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, August 11, 2007

15. Pala Campanile

Pala Campanile built by Padre Antonio Peyri A.D. 1816. Destroyed by Flood Waters of Storm January, A.D. 1916. Restored with Original Material, Exact Reproduction, Rev. George Doyle, April, A.D. 1916.
Bell Tower restored, Dec. 1998. Funded by California State Questers and the Live Oak Chapter, Fallbrook.

St. Anthony of Padua image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, August 11, 2007

16. St. Anthony of Padua

Unlike many such statues you see at other churches and Missions, this one depicts St. Anthony as a person of color.

Jesus Christ Sculpture image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, August 11, 2007

17. Jesus Christ Sculpture

Historical Jailhouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, August 11, 2007

18. Historical Jailhouse

Credits. This page was last revised on February 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 29, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. This page has been viewed 1,266 times since then and 37 times this year. Last updated on February 10, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1. submitted on February 13, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2. submitted on December 30, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. submitted on January 4, 2012, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photos of each building and marker, on their own marker pages. • Can you help?

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Sep. 23, 2026