Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá - San Diego
It was back in the 18th century when Spain built a string of missions across California, from San Diego to Sonoma, in hopes of “gaining a foothold” in the new frontier, according to VisitCalifornia.com. This basilica was the first, built in 1769 and restored in 1931. It remains notable for its bell tower, which soars 46 feet into the sky and features five bells, the largest of which is 1,200 pounds.
Christ Cathedral - Garden Grove, California
Notable for its reflective glass main building and its entire complex’s forward-thinking architecture created by a team of world-class architects and designers, from Philip Johnson and John Burgee to Richard Meier, this site, dedicated in 1980, served as the longtime home of evangelist Robert H. Schuller and his Garden Grove Community Church. The “Hour of Power,” in fact, was broadcast from “Crystal Cathedral,” as it was formerly known.
