BajaNomad

Baja Missions Web (new version) part 1 The Jesuit Missions

David K - 3-20-2009 at 09:08 AM

I am re-making the Baja Missons web page... and I am welcoming you folks to have a sneak preview look... and let me know how you like the new look, additional information, etc.

THE NEW web site is this: http://www.vivabaja.com/missions1/
and was made to show the beautiful photographs taken by Jack Swords of the missions in Baja. Kevin Clough, Robert Jackson, Ed Vernon and I also have photos included.

The idea is to photo the sites as they appear now, before they vanish... the ones in ruins, that is. Photos were taken from 1998 to 2006 and there are photos from the past, as well...

As I learn more details of the missions through reading more books, visiting the sites and especially you Nomads who also report back after your visits... I want to update the information with the most accurate details possible.

Baja mission history is complex, yet very interesting!

Anyway, I will be working on this for a while, but have a look at what I have so far... the 17 Jesuit missions founded from 1697 to 1767:http://www.vivabaja.com/missions1/

I plan a page of historical photos, directions with GPS, and visitas of the missions... to be added.

Enjoy!

[Edited on 3-20-2009 by David K]

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

David K - 3-20-2009 at 03:04 PM

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)

ZThomas - 3-20-2009 at 04:56 PM

Fascinating. Really, really neat stuff. I often regret being so wrapped up with the fishing and boating that I spend all my Baja time doing it. It's looking like we may be able to move back to SD soon, and if so I'll have more time for more stuff.

At any rate, thanks for all the effort.

ZT

David K - 3-20-2009 at 05:07 PM

Thanks Zack,

Fishing is what attracted our family to Baja back in the 1960's...

Once there, we became fascinated with the beauty of the land and the enormous amount of history on the peninsula.

My mother loved to inspect the missions and old mines... and poke around the old graves... My dad loved to drive the rough roads, camp and fish... I grew up loving Baja for all it has to offer.

Jack Swords - 3-21-2009 at 06:24 AM

Wow David...very nice! Can't wait to see it completed.

David K - 3-21-2009 at 08:09 AM

Thank's Jack... it needed a clean look with better data on the missions coming from more research. Naturally, your photos are the star of the site!

There is still much to do, but I thought I would give the Nomads a preview and see if there is any feedback.

I am putting together files of old vs. new photos, as well.

Not sure how yet, but I want to have the older and recent photos next to each other to compare, as that was popular with the current Baja Missions web site.

David K - 3-23-2009 at 07:48 AM

Thanks Amy... I added some more 'historic' photos this morning....

Mision San Juan Bautista de Ligui (Malibat)

David K - 3-26-2009 at 09:18 AM

Academicanarchist sent me one from 1975... and it is on the new web page... would still like to see others, if any!

[Edited on 3-29-2009 by David K]

David K - 3-26-2009 at 04:50 PM

Jack Swords sent me the INAH floor plan for Ligui... and it shows a side view of the arroyo cutting partially into the mission foundation (pre-2001)... THANKS JACK!

It is on the new page, now!



[Edited on 3-29-2009 by David K]

David K - 3-27-2009 at 06:11 AM

Gave the first page a direct link contents feature, changed the text on Comondu per Ed Vernon email, and will be adding a front page photo later... maybe move the maps to the first page...

Then, I start work on the Franciscan and Dominican missions pages!!!;)

David K - 3-29-2009 at 08:54 AM

Okay... see what I can get together, today!

I just posted some photos and direction to AGUA DULCE an important water source on the Camino Real between Mision Santa Maria de los Angeles and Mision San Fernando Velicata... and it is only 2 easy miles off Highway One (between Kms. 160 & 161)... between San Agustin and Cataviña. LINK: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=37900

[Edited on 3-29-2009 by David K]

Leo - 3-29-2009 at 08:08 PM

Very impressive archive.
Supper job to get this all together Dave. I particularly like 'Mission San Jose Comondu' picture from 1905 that shows how elaborate that place was. What a shame, to see what's left of it 100 years later.

David K - 3-30-2009 at 07:37 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Leo
Very impressive archive.
Supper job to get this all together Dave. I particularly like 'Mission San Jose Comondu' picture from 1905 that shows how elaborate that place was. What a shame, to see what's left of it 100 years later.


Yah, a shame... San Jose de Comondu was the LARGEST mission church in CALIFORNIA (Baja & Alta California)... and was torn down in 1936 to make room for a school! The school has since been torn down, too... from what I read... Jimmy Smith had a different story that said a Mexican general ordered it torn down so he could build himself a villa with the mission blocks, in nearby San Miguel.

Edward Vernon in his excellent book has a large chapter on San Jose de Comondu with computerized reconstruction of what the church must have looked like.

David K - 5-6-2009 at 10:47 PM

In the past 5 weeks since first reporting the new web page, I have been adding and improving the info and how it is presented... Today, I just finished some edits and rewording and adding the GPS waypoints to the Part 1 missions, right on the page for each mission.

I went with the Degrees/ Minutes/ Seconds format at map datum WGS84, because that is the format used by Google Earth. Should any of you wish to see a mission site from space on Google Earth, you just slide your pointer to the waypoint provided! As you probably know, to enter these waypoints into your GPS make sure yours is set to map datum WGS84 and the position format is at hdddºmm'ss.s". You can change back to the datum and format you like, if different after you enter the mission waypoints and the new reading will be altered, but the mission will be in the correct spot (unless I typo'd)! :biggrin:

I will be adding the GPS data to the Part 2 missions, next...

The link to the revised mission pages is in my signature, in each of my Nomad posts...

bajaamy - 5-7-2009 at 06:16 AM

Hi, David--

These pages are looking good! Thanks for all the effort.

On the Santo Domingo page, in the bottom photo that shows the first "Red Rock" site . . . is the black spot in the background the cave where mass was once held before buildings were constructed?

Does anyone have more photos of Red Rock, and the cave? We drove by it two years ago on our way to the mission, but didn't stop to take photos.

Amy

David K - 5-7-2009 at 08:08 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaamy
Hi, David--

These pages are looking good! Thanks for all the effort.

On the Santo Domingo page, in the bottom photo that shows the first "Red Rock" site . . . is the black spot in the background the cave where mass was once held before buildings were constructed?

Does anyone have more photos of Red Rock, and the cave? We drove by it two years ago on our way to the mission, but didn't stop to take photos.

Amy


Thanks Amy... I know that you are at least one Nomad who likes this historic stuff!

I am not sure if that is the famous cave or a shadow...



[Edited on 5-7-2009 by David K]

David K - 5-13-2009 at 05:58 PM

GPS data has been added to each mission listed in Parts 1 & 2 (ie. all the missions)! That is, on the page for that mission...

David K - 8-12-2009 at 11:38 AM

I believe all the links are updated to the NEW pages and the information is as accurate as possible... including NEW data obtained last month on our latest Baja trip.

ENJOY!
http://www.vivabaja.com/missions1/