Missions of Edwin Deakin

Previously thought to be lost to the 1906 earthquake and fire in San Francisco, a generous gift keeps this priceless collection intact for future generations in our community.

One of the earliest artists to record all 21 California missions in color, between 1897 and 1899, Edwin Deakin visited each Mission and made these field watercolor sketches, Deakin documented the missions in the late 1800s as they were falling into ruin. His work had a profound impact on efforts to save them before they disappeared forever.