back | 1 of 20 | next

Native American Labor in the Missions
In 1769 the Spanish Franciscans established the first of 21 religious settlements. Their idea was to apprentice California Native Americans to learn European trades and the Christian religion. Indian labor built the missions and did virtually all the work inside and surrounding them. High rates of disease and poor diet combined with the unaccustomed labor to destroy much of the Native American population.
Anton Refregier mural panel, Rincon Annex, San Francisco