THE Franciscan Missions of California are the physical landmarks of one of the most remarkable undertakings in recorded history. Certainly no episode in the white man's conquest of the present United States is more amazing. In contrast to the procedure of deliberate extermination as carried out along the Eastern seaboard, the Spanish conquerors of California made a valiant effort to raise the native Indians to their own standards of civilization. The instrument employed in this ambitious venture was the marvelous mission system developed by the Jesuits and adopted hy the Franciscans. Although the whole futile undertaking lasted only sixty-five years, the Mission Period gave California an historical background unsurpassed in interest and romance by the local traditions of any other section of this nation. Nor can any locality boast of better preserved monuments to its pioneers than the remains of its twenty-one missionary stations. Many books have been written about the missions. Few years of the present century have failed to provide at least one new volume on the subject. Yet not many have offered new material or a new approach. Easily the most distinctive book has been In and Out of the Old Missions by George Wharton James, which for twenty-five years was the classic in the field. There would hardly be need for further discussion, had not recent restorations rendered the work of Mr. James out of date. The history of 21 missions is given here as well as a general overview of the whole missionary period.