BajaNomad

Baja's Spanish Missions & Photos (the years each operated)

David K - 11-6-2007 at 09:00 AM

>>> APRIL 2009 and AUGUST 2009 UPDATED DATA with PHOTOS of all mission sites from past and present are now here: BAJA's MISSIONS & VISITAS (new link)


==========================================================


NOTE: this is a repost from June, 2004 to spawn new discussion on the fascinating history of Baja... the original California! The latest facts and mission details are on the revised pages, here: http://vivabaja.com/missions1/

The Jesuits established 17 missions during their period in Baja California. The Franciscans just one at San Fernando Velicata. The Dominicans established 9, however Dr. Jackson says the last two (Descanso and Guadalupe del Norte) were new locations for San Miguel mission, and not 'seperate' missions.

The Franciscans and Dominicans did build at the Jesuit founded missions: Santa Maria's adobe church was built by the Franciscans. San Borja and Santa Gertrudis stone churches were built by the Dominicans and the stone San Ignacio church was completed by the Dominicans.



As missions were established and abandoned the actual total number on the peninsula at any one time makes an interesting list.

I will use Ed Vernon's excellent book LAS MISIONES ANTIGUAS for dates. New missions will be all CAPS and just the short version of the mission name is used. When the list shrinks, that year a mission was abandoned. Ligui was the first to be abandoned, in 1721. However, the inhabitants were moved that year to the new mission of Dolores.

1697 (1): LORETO

1699 (2): SAN JAVIER, Loreto

1705 (4): LIGUI, MULEGE, San Javier, Loreto

1708 (5): COMONDU, Mulege, Ligui, San Javier, Loreto

1720 (8): LA PURISIMA, LA PAZ, GUADALUPE (DEL SUR), Comondu, Mulege, Ligui, San Javier, Loreto

1721 (8): DOLORES, La Purisima, La Paz, Guadalupe, Comondu, Mulege, San Javier, Loreto. [Ligui abandoned]

1724 (9): SANTIAGO, Dolores, La Purisima, La Paz, Guadalupe, Comondu, Mulege, San Javier, Loreto

1728 (10):SAN IGNACIO, Santiago, Dolores, La Purisima, La Paz, Guadalupe, Comondu, Mulege, San Javier, Loreto

1730 (11): SAN JOSE DEL CABO, San Ignacio, Santiago, Dolores, La Purisima, La Paz, Guadalupe, Comondu, Mulege, San Javier, Loreto

1733 (12): SANTA ROSA (Todos Santos), San Jose del Cabo, San Ignacio, Santiago, Dolores, La Purisima, La Paz, Guadalupe, Comondu, Mulege, San Javier, Loreto

1737 (13): SAN LUIS GONZAGA, Santa Rosa, San Jose del Cabo, San Ignacio, Santiago, Dolores, La Purisima, La Paz, Guadalupe, Comondu, Mulege, San Javier, Loreto

1748 (12): La Paz mission was moved to Todos Santos (Santa Rosa) and the two missions blended into one, called 'PILAR'*. Total: 12 missions

* This is a simplistic answer for a much more complex situation at Todos Santos, possible fodder for a seperate article.

1751 (13): SANTA GERTRUDIS (orig. to be called Dolores del Norte), San Luis Gonzaga, Pilar, San Jose del Cabo, San Ignacio, Santiago, Dolores, La Purisima, Guadalupe, Comondu, Mulege, San Javier, Loreto (13 missions)

1762 (14): SAN BORJA, Santa Gertrudis, San Luis Gonzaga, Pilar, San Jose del Cabo, San Ignacio, Santiago, Dolores, La Purisima, Guadalupe, Comondu, Mulege, San Javier, Loreto (14 missions)

1766 (15): CALAMAJUE (but moved in 1767 and named SANTA MARIA DE LOS ANGELES), San Borja, Santa Gertrudis, San Luis Gonzaga, Pilar, San Jose del Cabo, San Ignacio, Santiago, Dolores, La Purisima, Guadalupe, Comondu, Mulege, San Javier, Loreto (Total 15 missions operating)

1768 (13): JESUITS removed from the New World. Their 15 missions (that year) were reduced to 13 with the ordered closing of San Luis Gonzaga and Dolores by the Spanish government. Only Ligui and La Paz had been abandoned during their period in Baja California.

1769 (13): SAN FERNANDO was founded by the Franciscan Junipero Serra on his way to San Diego. Santa Maria was reduced in status from a mission to a visita. Total net 13 missions.

1774: DOMINICANS take over from the Franciscans who expand into Alta California, and establish ROSARIO (14 on the peninsula this year)

1775: SANTO DOMINGO (15 total missions operating)

1780: SAN VICENTE (16)

1787: SAN MIGUEL (17)

1791: SANTO TOMAS (18)

1794: SAN PEDRO MARTIR (total 19 missions operating this year, the maximum in Baja California)

1795: Guadalupe del Sur and Santiago are abandoned (17 total)

1797: SANTA CATALINA founded (18 total)

1817: DESCANSO founded and San Javier abandoned (18 total)

1818: San Borja, San Fernando abandoned (16 total)

1822: La Purisima, Santa Gertrudis abandoned (14 total)

1824: San Pedro Martir abandoned ( 13 total )

1827: Comondu abandoned ( 12 total )

1828: Mulege abandoned ( 11 total )

1829: Loreto abandoned ( 10 total )

1832: Rosario abandoned ( 9 total )

1833: San Vicente, San Miguel abandoned (7 total)

1834: GUADALUPE (DEL NORTE) founded, Descanso abandoned. Remaining missions still operating this year: San Ignacio, San Jose del Cabo, Santo Domingo, Santo Tomas, Santa Catarina, Pilar (Todos Santos) TOTAL in 1834: 7

Of interest, Guadalupe del Norte was the last California mission founded (Baja and Alta).

Note: Various authors have various dates for the missions' operation.

The last mission officially operating was Santo Tomas, until 1849. The others that were still open all closed in 1839 to 1840.

SEE THE MISSIONS: http://www.vivabaja.com/missions1/




[Edited on 4-28-2009 by David K]


[Edited on 8-12-2009 by David K]

David K - 11-6-2007 at 06:14 PM

What you will see if you go, or would have seen if you wait too long!!! (photos from Jack Swords, Kevin Clough, Ed Vernon, Robert Jckson and myself found at vivabaja.com/bajamissions)


Here are the first 11 of the 27 missions (note there were often more than one site for each mission)

LORETO


SAN JAVIER


LIGUI (foundation washed away in 2001 hurricane)


MULEGE


COMONDU


LA PURISIMA


LA PAZ (no ruins, only a plaque to mark a possible location)


GUADALUPE (del Sur)


DOLORES


SANTIAGO (foundation stones only at one site)


SAN IGNACIO


[Edited on 11-7-2007 by David K]

David K - 11-6-2007 at 06:29 PM

The next 9 missions...

SAN JOSE DEL CABO (no ruins, 1918 photo)


SANTA ROSA (TODOS SANTOS)


SAN LUIS GONZAGA


SANTA GERTRUDIS


SAN BORJA


SANTA MARIA


SAN FERNANDO


ROSARIO


SANTO DOMINGO

David K - 11-6-2007 at 06:41 PM

The final missions in Baja...

SAN VICENTE


SAN MIGUEL


SANTO TOMAS


SAN PEDRO MARTIR


SANTA CATALINA (some foundation stones, small amount of adobe)


DESCANSO (floor tiles, foundation stones)


GUADALUPE (del Norte) (no mission ruins)

bajadock - 11-6-2007 at 09:07 PM

David, thanks for inspiring me to visit. Wonderful history.

David K - 11-23-2007 at 05:34 PM

De nada... 27 mission sites shown above, but many more ruins at second locations or of visitas (mission visiting stations).

I have new photos taken at Santa Catalina mission ( now at the end of http://vivabaja.com/606 ).

[Edited on 8-12-2009 by David K]

bajalera - 11-24-2007 at 02:08 PM

Nice collection of info and photos, DK.

bacquito - 11-24-2007 at 02:48 PM

Thanks, I hope to get involved.

Mexitron - 11-24-2007 at 04:35 PM

David--did you ever get back to check out the bulldozed visita near Rancho Metate?

Visita of San Juan de Dios

David K - 11-25-2007 at 09:09 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Mexitron
David--did you ever get back to check out the bulldozed visita near Rancho Metate?


No, have not been there since Neal Johns and John M reported the site destroyed by a farmer's tractor.

I visited the site twice (2000 & 2003).







Here is a photo that Jack Swords took in 2003 >>>

[Edited on 11-25-2007 by David K]

Jack Swords Photos 157-r.JPG - 42kB

David K - 11-25-2007 at 09:12 AM

Another from Jack Swords...

Jack Swords Photos 156-r.JPG - 46kB

David K - 11-25-2007 at 09:18 AM

One more taken by Jack in November, 2003 at San Juan de Dios, an important visiting station of Mision San Fernando Velicata...

Also, the place where Fr. Junipero Serra rested on his 1769 walk from Loreto to Alta California while a muleteer treated his infected leg with a poultice he uses for mules with bad leg injuries!

Jack Swords Photos 159-r.JPG - 48kB

Mexitron - 11-25-2007 at 10:54 AM

That was it--don't know why I couldn't think of the name San Juan Del Dios...gotta get back there exploring the area again before I forget everything!

David K please send me an e-mail

academicanarchist - 1-5-2008 at 06:16 AM

David K. Please send me an e-mail as soon as you can. The one I have for you seems to no longer work. Thanks. AA

David K - 1-5-2008 at 09:31 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by academicanarchist
David K. Please send me an e-mail as soon as you can. The one I have for you seems to no longer work. Thanks. AA


Will do Robert, but just in case others want to email me... in my web site is an email address given to contact me: info*at*vivabaja.com put Baja in the subject line and I will reply from my msn email server as 'baja4me'.

U2U here on Nomad is another way to contact me off the forums.

[Edited on 7-3-2008 by David K]

Dolores del Norte?

David K - 1-5-2008 at 10:52 AM

Some notes...

Some maps or books will have a mission north of San Ignacio called 'Dolores del Norte'. The adobe ruins of the visita of San Pablo (east of Vizcaino) are usually the site misnamed Dolores del Norte... Even INAH calls the site 'Dolores del Norte'.




When Choral Pepper, Erle Stanley Gardner and others dropped into San Francisco de la Sierra by helicopter in 1964 they were told the impressive stone walls were the remains of the Dolores mission.



Dr. Robert Jackson (academicanarchist) has concluded that the next mission north of San Ignacio was to be named Dolores del Norte, but when funding arrived to start construction the name was changed to Santa Gertrudis.

The adobe ruins at San Pablo were a visita of Santa Gertrudis. The site of San Francisco de la Sierra may have been an early choice for 'Dolores' and was a visita of San Ignacio, but lacked sufficient water to be a successful mission site. The name 'Dolores' survived through the ages of story telling from when the Arce clan moved to the sierra, starting as a Spanish solder given a grant of land at the end of his service to the king.

Because Jesuit documents and the 1757 map shows a mission of Dolores del Norte, modern authors have concluded that it is either a lost mission or the San Pablo ruins.

Look betwen the A and L in CALIFORNIA to see Mision de los Dolores del Norte, 'started':



An English version of that map:





[Edited on 2-10-2009 by David K]

Name that mission

David K - 2-9-2008 at 09:08 AM

This mission existed for only 7 months before it was moved many miles away... Some books count it as a seperate mission and new books only call it a visita (as it was before and after the 7 months it was a mission, here).

Name the site:

!CALAMAJUE!

BAJACAT - 2-9-2008 at 07:50 PM

David K - 2-9-2008 at 09:16 PM

CORRECTO!!!

The new mission of Santa Maria first was at Calamajue, then after the climate dried, the heavily mineralized stream was less diluted and crops failed... so the move was made.

BAJACAT - 2-11-2008 at 08:49 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Quote:

WHAT DO I GET DK.

CORRECTO!!!

The new mission of Santa Maria first was at Calamajue, then after the climate dried, the heavily mineralized stream was less diluted and crops failed... so the move was made.

David K - 2-12-2008 at 06:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BAJACAT
Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Quote:

WHAT DO I GET DK.

CORRECTO!!!

The new mission of Santa Maria first was at Calamajue, then after the climate dried, the heavily mineralized stream was less diluted and crops failed... so the move was made.


The satisfaction of knowing your Baja mission sites!

BAJACAT - 2-12-2008 at 09:41 PM

Can I pick one? for my prize.

[Edited on 8-19-2008 by BAJACAT]

Name the mission

David K - 8-18-2008 at 09:35 AM

Here's another photo of a mission site, taken in the last 3 years... Can you name the mission?




[Edited on 8-18-2008 by David K]

BAJACAT - 8-18-2008 at 08:45 PM

I might be wrong but i think is Santo Domingo founded by Fathers Manuel Garcia and Father Miguel Hidalgo(1775-1839)

David K - 8-19-2008 at 08:46 AM

You are right!!!:bounce::bounce::bounce::light::light::light:

Good job Jose!

Next...

David K - 8-19-2008 at 08:50 AM

This man and his family live next to a mission... name the man and the mission!

mailedd66.jpg - 49kB

Iflyfish - 8-19-2008 at 03:12 PM

Man these are great, thank so much for posting them. Fine history lesson.

Iflyfish

BAJACAT - 8-19-2008 at 06:37 PM

This one is pretty easy, I will let some body else play.

David K - 10-14-2008 at 05:48 PM

Still need an answer... name the man and the mission... ;)

Mexitron - 10-14-2008 at 06:32 PM

San Borja, yo creo

BAJACAT - 10-14-2008 at 08:51 PM

The care taker name is Jose and yes he his on the roof of San Borja mission, his son genaro was our guide to las Tinajitas site and the hot springs.., the funny thing is they are a christian family, waching over a catholic church..

bajalera - 10-22-2008 at 11:16 AM

Since when are Catholics not Christians?

David K - 10-22-2008 at 04:17 PM

I think it goes like this: All Catholics are Christians, but not all Christians are Catholic.

I think Jose may be Morman or Seventh Day Adventist?

bajalera - 10-22-2008 at 06:45 PM

So it's like all husbands are men but all men are not husbands? Or all Porches are cars but not all cars are Porches?

I think I get it.

Another Guess What Historic Site

David K - 12-8-2008 at 10:32 AM

This little known site was a visita or perhaps a way station on a mission trail... a trail that went over 5,000 feet above sea level!

[Edited on 12-8-2008 by David K]

Mtn. visita.JPG - 40kB

David K - 12-8-2008 at 05:46 PM

Hint: It is often misspelled and the final letters of the name is the Spanish word for gold.:tumble:

BAJACAT - 12-9-2008 at 08:29 PM

Also was mistaken by another mission... I will let the other nomads play.

SANTA ANA VISITA

BAJACAT - 12-9-2008 at 08:44 PM

DAVID THIS PICTURE IS FROM MY 2006 BAJA TRIP,
Note.this wall is found a few yards ahead the padres tumb stones,it's only a side of the building that still stands,,




[Edited on 12-10-2008 by BAJACAT]

Santa Ana

David K - 12-10-2008 at 09:04 AM

Really good photo Jose! I didn't see the adobe wall/ building when I was there in 2003. We drove in on the (almost gone) road south then west from San Borja... and out to San Ignacito and west to Rosarito.

Here is the rock covered grave next to the two you photographed, and my caption below:


The site of a mission visiting station, today Santa Ana is abandoned.
A large oasis is in the back ground.
This small graveyard is next to the seldom traveled road at 28°41.47'/ 113°41.35'.
Two large graves next to this one can be seen at: http://www.bajataco.com/Baja/Padres-at-Rest.html



[Edited on 12-10-2008 by David K]

David K - 12-10-2008 at 09:16 AM

Santa Ana on the 1962 map.... southwest from San Borja.

David K - 12-16-2008 at 10:46 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
This little known site was a visita or perhaps a way station on a mission trail... a trail that went over 5,000 feet above sea level!



Okay, other than Baja Cat, nobody came forward to take a guess... It is a tough one, because almost no other photos of it exist aside from the ones taken by Kevin that I have posted on Nomad!

These are the ruins of SAN ISIDORO on the trail to Mision San Pedro Martir...

Mtn. visita.JPG - 40kB

David K - 12-16-2008 at 10:48 AM

More at San Isidoro...

Isidoro-2r.JPG - 45kB

David K - 12-16-2008 at 10:50 AM

Those who read Graham Mackintosh's second book ('Journey With a Baja Burro') may recall that Graham camped here while rains delayed his quest to climb up to Mision San Pedro Martir...

Isidoro-3r.JPG - 47kB

David K - 12-16-2008 at 10:52 AM

Graham could not find the trail after several attempts, so he and Mision the burro continued south...

Another photo at San Isidoro...

Isidoro-4r.JPG - 48kB

Another one to guess an answer... 3 answers!

David K - 12-17-2008 at 02:20 AM

This will be trickier, because I took this photo over 33 years ago... the mission no longer has as much standing...

Name the mission, the founding Father, and what was unique about it (compared to all the other Baja missions)?

scan0021.jpg - 47kB

XRPhlang - 12-17-2008 at 09:25 AM

I'll take a stab. I can't be sure because it is much more erroded today, but is it San Fernando, the first and only Franciscan mission in Baja? If so, then Father Serra would be the Jefe Superior. What was the only Visita they founded in Baja?

David K - 12-17-2008 at 11:14 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by XRPhlang
I'll take a stab. I can't be sure because it is much more erroded today, but is it San Fernando, the first and only Franciscan mission in Baja? If so, then Father Serra would be the Jefe Superior. What was the only Visita they founded in Baja?


CORRECT!

It was a mission, not 'just' a visita... and the Franciscans are credited with the visita of La Presentacion, south of San Javier. I need to do some reading of any other Franciscan established sites in Baja... Thanks!

Here's a photo taken at San Fernando on Dec. 31, 2004...

105 002.jpg - 48kB

BAJACAT - 12-19-2008 at 09:53 PM

"WAS" is a clue,

The first 17 missions founded in California

David K - 3-14-2009 at 11:19 AM

Baja California Spanish Mission Fact Sheet

Seventeen Jesuit founded missions 1697-1768

1) Nuestra Señora de Loreto Conchó 1697-1829

2) San Francisco Javier de Biaundó 1699-1817
(Moved 5 miles south in 1710)

3) San Juan Bautista de Ligüí/ Malibat 1705-1721
(Endowment used to found Los Dolores, in 1721)

4) Santa Rosalía de Mulegé 1705-1828

5) San José de Comondú 1708-1827
(Moved to visita site ‘San Ignacio’, in 1736)

6) La Purísima Concepción de Cadegomó 1720-1822
(Moved ~1735)

7) Nuestra Señora del Pilar de la Paz Airapí 1720-1748
(Moved to Santa Rosa de las Palmas and replaced that mission in 1748)

8) Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Huasinapí 1720-1795

9) Nuestra Señora de los Dolores Apaté 1721-1741 & 1741-1768, at La Pasión
(Moved to visita site La Pasión, at Chillá, renamed Los Dolores Chillá 1741- 1768. Often known as ‘Dolores del Sur’ to separate it from the proposed mission in the north ‘Dolores del Norte’)

10) Santiago el Apóstol Aiñiní 1724-1795 (An early site that failed was at Real de Santa Ana, started in 1722. The 1724 Santiago mission site, at Rancho La Misión, was moved after approx. ten years to the location of the modern town church. Some historians report a third move in 1790, to Caduaño.)

11) Nuestro Señor San Ignacio Kadakaamán 1728-1840

12) San José del Cabo Añuití 1730-1840
(Soon moved 5 miles inland from near the sea. Moved back, close to sea in 1735. One final move about one mile inland, in 1753)

13) Missions at Todos Santos 1733 to 1840: Santa Rosa de las Palmas 1733-1748. (Previously a visita of the La Paz mission named Todos Santos). The La Paz mission moved here and Santa Rosa was renamed Nuestra Señora del Pilar (de la Paz) 1748-1840. (Moved ~1825 approx. one mile south)

14) San Luis Gonzaga Chiriyaqui 1737-1768

15) Santa Gertrudis de Cadacamán 1751-1822 Originally designated as ‘Dolores del Norte’ on Jesuit records and maps, name changed by request of the benefactor.

16) San Francisco de Borja Adac 1762-1818

17) Calamajué 1766-1767 & 1767-1769, at Santa María
(Moved to Cabujakaamung and renamed Santa María de los Angeles 1767-1769)

[Edited on 3-14-2009 by David K]

David K - 3-15-2009 at 07:06 AM

In February, 1778, the Jesuits were removed from the peninsula (and all of New Spain) and returned to Europe.

The Franciscans replaced them on the peninsula, led by Fr. Junipero Serra.

The missions of Dolores and San Luis Gonzaga were closed by the Spanish representitive and the Indians forced to relocate to Mision Pilar de la Paz, at Todos Santos. Serra concentrated on advancing into Alta California taking with him people and possesions from the failing Baja missions. Fr. Francisco Palou was put in charge of the Baja mission system, but the Franciscans made a 'deal' with the Dominican Order... and after only 5 years in Baja, gave the peninsula to them.

While there, the Franciscans founded but one mission, San Fernando Velicatá in 1769 and closed Santa María de los Angeles as a mission but it remained as a visita of San Fernando for several years. A visita was a mission-like location, but did not have a resident priest.

The Franciscans are credited with building the adobe at Santa Maria as well as adobe buildings at San Borja and the stone visita at La Presentación.

David K - 4-25-2009 at 07:25 AM

Totally Revised and updated mission data begins here: http://www.vivabaja.com/missions1/

[Edited on 8-12-2009 by David K]

GregN - 4-28-2009 at 10:14 AM

Great photos and info, David. I've been to most of the sites and it brings back a lot of memories.

www.gregniemann.com

David K - 4-28-2009 at 02:48 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by GregN
Great photos and info, David. I've been to most of the sites and it brings back a lot of memories.

www.gregniemann.com


Thanks Greg!

Please look at my newest mission revised info pages... they start here:http://www.vivabaja.com/missions1/

[Edited on 8-12-2009 by David K]

David K - 8-12-2009 at 11:45 AM

Links in this thread all updated to the NEW missions web pages: http://www.vivabaja.com/missions1/