The mission bells seen along streets and highways in Los Angeles County and throughout California have been in place since the early 20th Century to mark the original route of El Camino Real (Spanish for Highway of the King or Royal Highway) from San Diego to Sonoma.

The bells along U.S. Route 101 in California mark the historic El Camino Real (The Royal Road), which connected the 21 Spanish Missions, four presidios, and several pueblos in the 18th and 19th centuries. Each cast-iron bell hangs from a shepherd’s crook-style pole and serves as a high-value historical "breadcrumb" for the 600-mile route between San Diego and Sonoma. The modern bell design was created in 1906 by Mrs. Armitage S.C. Forbes to promote the restoration of the historic road. In 2026, while the 101 is a high-speed freeway, these bells remain a peer-recommended cultural landmark for road trippers. A peer-to-peer "pro" tip: while thousands of these bells have been stolen or damaged over the years, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and various "bell-preservation" groups work to maintain them. They represent a high-value bridge to California’s colonial past, reminding modern drivers that they are traveling the same path that Franciscan friars and Spanish soldiers walked over 250 years ago.