Originally published in 1905. The product of twenty-five years of research and on-site visits, James' book endures as the best read and valued resource from dozens of popular mission books of early 1900s. This digital version retains the pagination of the original but enhances the often faded, yellowing images in hard-to-find and expensive first printings.

Treasured for its descriptions of physical status of each mission a century ago (example) and 140 vintage images.

James' Bio

George Wharton James (1858-1923) was born in England and trained as a Methodist minister. Later in his life he became a lecturer and writer, specializing in the American Southwest. His writings include Through Ramona's Country (1908) and The Wonders of the Colorado Desert (1906). Wharton had a special interest in the old Spanish missions which he visited and researched over twenty-five years starting in 1880 when many of the missions were in ruins. His book In and Out of the Old Missions of California (1905) is considered a classic. It documents the state of each of the missions before their restoration and contains 140 priceless photographs.