One of the jewels of Santa Clara is Mission Santa Clara de Asis, located on the University of Santa Clara campus. Founded on Jan. 12, 1777, it was the eighth mission in a chain of 21 throughout California established by Father Junipero Serra. It was the only mission to be named for a woman ­­‑ Saint Claire of Assisi, a childhood friend of Saint Francis - and it became California’s first college in 1850.