San Luis Rey Mission Oceanside CA (Travel Photo Thursday)

I'm posting over at The Budget Travelers' Sandbox 

March 2014 - Oceanside CA

I love visiting the missions that are in Texas, California, New Mexico.

Earlier in the week we had visited San Juan Capistrano Mission.
We also went to San Xavier in Tucson.

Founded in 1798 by Padre Fermin Francisco de Lasuen, successor to Padre Junipero Serra, the Mission was named after St. Louis IX, King of France, who lived during the 13th century. The history of the San Luis Rey area reflects five periods of occupation: Luiseño Indian, Spanish Mission, Mexican Secularization, American Military, and Twentieth Century Restoration.

We stepped outside to the cemetery before continuing inside.This is the oldest cemetery in North County.

I googled this grave and found this information at Find A Grave.
Born prematurely and lived a short, but efficacious life.

Indian Monument

The gift shop.

The oldest pepper tree in California, planted in 1830 and still living.

The museum

We found this statue of a Mormon Battalion soldier very intriguing since we had just visited the Mormon Battalion Museum earlier in the week in San Diego.

 Spring has sprung! Look at this wisteria!!