Kyle Hanson 12/25/15 Kyle Hanson 12/25/15

#108 Mission Inn

The Mission Inn is the grandest hotel in the west. Located in Riverside, once the richest city in the United States due to California's 2nd Gold Rush the Citrus Industry, Frank Miller envisioned the Inn so guests would have a luxurious place to stay while visiting. Mission-Revival is the architectural style and is the largest building of its type in the country.

Modeled after California's 21 Spanish Missions, the Inn contains more than 200 rooms that surround garden terraces, art galleries, decorated balconies, sculptures, ballrooms and one of the grandest staircases in the world. Celebrities and presidents have stayed and wed here including Theodore Roosevelt, Andrew Carnegie, Albert Einstein, Helen Keller, John Muir, Amelia Earhart, Ginger Rogers, Clark Gable, Barbra Streisand and Miss Piggy among many many more.

Today, the Mission Inn is a living museum that screams luxury and opulence. Ranked the best in the country year after year, the Annual Festival of Lights Christmas Celebration draws thousand of visitors each season. Whether touring the grounds or staying the night, the Inn will continue to delight.

Kyle Hanson 12/21/15 Kyle Hanson 12/21/15

#104 Mission San Gabriel Arcángel

Mission San Gabriel Arcángel is the 4th of the California Missions and was founded in 1771. It is one of the most affluent, best preserved missions and became the spiritual center of the San Gabriel Valley. The mission was created by the Spanish to teach Native Americans farming and industry and convert them to Christianity. The mission museum and grounds are the perfect way to experience what life would have been like.

Kyle Hanson 12/19/15 Kyle Hanson 12/19/15

#102 Los Rios Historic District

The Los Rios Historic District in Orange County is the oldest neighborhood in California dating back to the late 1700's. Located across the railroad tracks of Mission San Juan Capistrano, several of the structures provided homes for the residents of the mission. The 31 structures that make up this district are located on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, a walk along the streets provide a glimpse of Southern California at the turn of the twentieth century.

Kyle Hanson 11/30/15 Kyle Hanson 11/30/15

#83 Oak of the Golden Dream

The Oak of the Golden Dream is the first original discovery of Gold in today's Placerita Canyon State Park. Six years before the California Gold Rush, a man named Francisco Lopez, brother of nearby Mission San Fernando Rey de España, had a dream of Gold while napping under an oak tree. After the dream, he picked wild onions and discovered gold in its roots. It became the first documented gold site in California. Marking the famous March 9th 1842 discovery is the surviving tree and the California Historical Landmark No. 168 Plaque.

Kyle Hanson 11/21/15 Kyle Hanson 11/21/15

#74 Mission San Juan Capistrano

Mission San Juan Capistrano in Orange County is known as the 'Jewel of the Missions'. Founded in 1775, it was the 7th of the 21 California Missions. Its main purpose was to teach and convert the Native Americans to the new Spanish way of life. At its peak in the early 19th century, the mission was home to 1,000 people.

The earthquake of 1812, lack of funding, Mexican Independence along with disease that the Spanish had brought with them proved too much and the mission system ended in 1834. Today, the beautiful grounds are a great way to enjoy a relaxing afternoon and learn the history of the missions. The famous swallows return to the Mission every March which is commemorated on St. Joseph's Day.

Kyle Hanson 10/22/15 Kyle Hanson 10/22/15

#44 Mission Santa Inés

Mission Santa Inés, established in 1804, was created to help convert the Chumash Native Americans to the Spanish way of life. Being the 19th established Mission, it served as a link between Santa Barbara and Lompoc. The Chumash revolted this new way of life in February of 1824. They fought for their freedom which eventually led to them fleeing into the mountains. The Mission system ended in 1833 after Mexico won independence from Spain in 1821. Today, Mission Santa Inés has been beautifully restored against the rolling green backdrop of the Santa Ynez Valley in Solvang.

Kyle Hanson 9/28/15 Kyle Hanson 9/28/15

#20 Mission San Fernando Rey de España

Mission San Fernando Rey de España is located in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. Founded in 1797, 'Mission of the Valley' was the 17th of the 21 Missions in California. Just before the famed Gold Rush of California, a brother of the mission discovered the first gold in nearby Placerita Canyon. Those who enter the Mission may feel the resemblance as it has been used in several films. Bob Hope is also interred here making it a famous Hollywood Mission.