California Missions and Presidios

The missions and presidios of California are among the state’s oldest structures and are the most visited historical monuments. These notable buildings are an integral part of California’s history. The state’s recorded history essentially began with the Spanish missions along the ambitious chain of 21 missions on El Camino Reál (The Royal Highway) and the men who founded them.

California Missions and Presidios is a gorgeous book that presents the history of these intriguing sanctuaries of peace and beauty. The eye-popping photography of Alastair Worden and Randy Leffingwell captures their unique character, while Leffingwell’s accessible text brings to life the overall history of California’s conquest by the Spanish; the construction and operation of the missions, presidios, ranchos, and adobes; and the background of the mission architecture and style.

Seemingly unchanged, these missions and presidios have survived the centuries remarkably well—still welcoming visitors as a refuge of serenity and splendor while providing a glimpse into the lives of the spirited pioneers who built these structures and lived and worked there.

Randy Leffingwell wrote his first book, American Muscle, in 1989 while still on staff at the Los Angeles Times. Since then, he has authored another 47 titles for Motorbooks and its sister publisher Voyageur Press covering subjects from sports cars to motorcycles to farm tractors. Leffingwell is considered one of the top Porsche historians working today, and he enjoys a close working relationship with Porsche AG. His Porsche titles include Porsche 911 50 Years, The Complete Book of Porsche 911, and Porsche Turbo. He lives in Santa Barbara, California.

Alastair Worden spent more than 20 years serving his country as a Coast Guard yeoman and then as a photojournalist. His images of Coast Guard personnel in action have appeared on the front page of \u201cUSA Today\u201d and in every major newspaper in the country as well as overseas. During his last tour in the Coast Guard, Worden was the Coast Guard Motion Picture Liaison Officer for Hollywood.