Mission San Luis Rey, located in Oceanside, was the 18th mission built in California.? Established in 1798, the mission is now operated by the Franciscan Friars of California and is a parish church.? There is a museum, a gift shop and a retreat center on the grounds as well as an active cemetery and gardens.

Mission San Luis Rey was the richest of all of the missions in its day and is often called the "King of the missions."? The first pepper tree planted in California was in its quadrangle, and it had over 50,000 cattle in its herds at its peak.? It fell on hard times after secularization but was restored to much of its earlier grandeur beginning in 1892.?