Lectures

David Bolton is a sought-after speaker on the topic of California Mission History.  With a background in news journalism, Mr. Bolton tells the story of California Mission History like no other. His excitement for and interest in the subject matter make his presentations engaging. The scope and depth of his study follow mission history back to its roots in Europe and the Middle East. Mr. Bolton resides in Santa Barbara, CA and has given many local presentations, but he is also available to book for talks via Zoom or in other areas of California depending on his travel schedule.

2024

March 21, 2024
Mr. Bolton to speak at 10:00 a.m. for the Daughters of the American Revolution at the Black Bear Diner in Ventura, CA.

March 27, 2024
Mr. Bolton to speak at 2:00 p.m. for the SB Rockwood Women's Club.

 

2023

October 26, 2023
Mr. Bolton to speak at 12:00 pm for the Daughters of the American Revolution at The Brass Bear Uptown in Santa Barbara, CA on “California Mission Projects".

 

2022

October 27, 2022
Mr. Bolton to speak at a luncheon at the Little Town Club on “California Mission History and Old Mission Santa Inés” in Santa Barbara, CA.

October 11, 2022
Mr. Bolton to speak at Valle Verde in Santa Barbara for the Philanthropic Educational Organization.

April 19, 2022
Mr. Bolton to speak via Zoom on “California Mission History and Old Mission Santa Inés” for the Colonial Dames of California.

March 21, 2022
Mr. Bolton to speak at the Santa Barbara Club for a luncheon talk on “Mission Santa Inés & the Valley: 200 Years Since Colonial Spanish California Became Part of the New Mexican Republic”.

March 19, 2022
Mr. Bolton to speak at the Mission San Juan Capistrano Swallows Event.

 

2021

March 24, 2021
Mr. Bolton to speak at the Rockwood Woman’s Club on California Mission History via Zoom.

November 18, 2021
Mr. Bolton to speak at the Daughters of the American Revolution luncheon on "The Founding of the Mission, Natives, Rancheros and the Development of the Santa Ynez Valley" in Santa Barbara, CA .

David A. Bolton Bio

David Bolton is the current Executive Director and CEO of the California Missions Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and restoration of the 21 historic Missions of California founded by Saint Junípero Serra. For the past 30 years, David has been dedicated to the preservation of the California Missions and related historical sites, as well as researching and helping to tell the story of early Spanish history in the American Southwest. In April 2019, Mr. Bolton was knighted by Spain’s King Felipe VI as a Commander of the Royal Order of Isabela la Católica.

As a film producer, David has spent more than two decades documenting the vast Spanish Mission chains of the Americas, from South America and Mexico to all corners of the present-day United States. Mr. Bolton’s production company, Cultural Global Media, has produced multiple international broadcasts of the Super Bowl for the National Football League and Fox Sports Latin America.

David is currently a board member of the United States-Spain Council in Washington, D.C., Old Spanish Days Inc. in Santa Barbara where he sits on the executive committee, United Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum.

California Missions Foundation has been dedicated to preserving and conserving the Spanish Missions and related historical sites of Alta California including their extensive collection of colonial paintings and artifacts. As Executive Director and CEO for the past 10 years, Mr. Bolton has worked to sustain the physical architecture, the culture, and the legacy of this important part of Spanish and American history. 

Under his leadership, the Foundation has raised millions of dollars to sponsor critical Mission and Presidio preservation projects from San Diego to Sonoma. With a vision to unite all actively interested in maintaining the Spanish legacy and culture of the Missions, Presidios, and Ranchos, Mr. Bolton spearheaded a merger of the California Missions Foundation and the California Mission Studies Association in 2015. Under the CMF banner, this united organization brings together preservationists, scholars, researchers, and educators under one umbrella focused on Spain’s legacy in Alta California and the Americas. 

David’s next major project in 2022 will be helping to facilitate the retrofit of Mission Santa Inés in the Santa Ynez Valley.