Junípero Serra was born on Majorca, a small Spanish island. He became a Franciscan priest as a young man. When he was 36, he traveled to be a missionary in Baja California. Serra worked to teach Native Americans the Roman Catholic religion. He joined the "Sacred Expedition" in 1767.

Serra had a breathing disorder called asthma and limped. Despite his medical problems, he had the energy to set up nine missions near the coast of California. A mission was a Spanish settlement in the Americas where priests taught Native Americans the Christian religion.

Serra changed California’s history. He helped create California’s strong Spanish heritage. On the other hand, he and other missionaries treated California’s Native Americans poorly.