BAJA CALIFORNIA: Finding a LOST MISSION

thats so neat. I love the story and research you put into this trip! and the side by side comparison pictures

 

Please enjoy my research on the oldest California missions (the Baja missions) and the King's Highway that connected them (El Camino Real)... it all begins here: http://vivabaja.com/bajamissions

I like how you call the Colorado River the 'east coast' of Alta California... You may enjoy the new web site a friend is developing to bring back Desert Magazine, online... www.dezertmagazine.com

 

Thats cool!

 

Great write up, maybe a Taco trip to? Baja is such an awsome place.

 

The Tacoma was made for Baja! I have been driving 4WD Tacomas there for almost 10 years and other vehicles since 1974, and as a passenger since 1965!

Here's my '01 on the road to Mision San Borja (in 2002):


On the Widowmaker grade returning from Mision Santa Maria (2003):


My 2005 DC Taco at Mision Santa Maria (2007):



Climbing back up 'The Widowmaker'...


My 2010 Taco going down a cliff/road just past Mision Santa Maria, just over 2 months ago...

 

Here's a little research... is he one of these?:


Spanish Governors of Las Californias, 1777-1804

• 1777-1782: Felipe de Neve
• 1782-1791: Pedro Fages
• 1791-1792: José Antonio Roméu
• 1792-1794: José Joaquín de Arrillaga (acting)
• 1794-1800: Diego de Borica
• 1800: Pedro de Alberni (acting)
• 1800-1804: José Joaquín de Arrillaga

The peninsula was divided into two separate entities in 1804, with the southern one having the seat of government established in the port of Loreto.

• The colonial governors were:
• 1804–1805 Claytoné de Allín (s.a.)
• 1806–1814 Ritchié de Níko
• 1814 - 11 April 1822 José Darío Argüello

 

Great, love history!
Here is the list from your link:

The colonial governors were:

• 1804–1805 José Joaquín de Arillaga (s.a.)
• 1806–1814 Felipe de Goycoechea
• 1814 – 11 April 1822 José Darío Argüello

 

What I hope to pass on when I talk about the FIRST California missions is that while San Diego is the oldest mission inside of the part of California the United States now owns, it is not the oldest California mission, by a long shot. San Diego was founded in 1769. The first successful California mission was founded in 1697, in Loreto... and San Diego was number 19 in the list of California missions founded. It was the second California mission founded by Franciscan Junipiro Serra, who led the expedition into Alta California (the land north of peninsular California, what is called Baja California, today). See my web site www.vivabaja.com/bajamissions

The name 'California' was applied to the peninsula first (originally believed to be an island)... and the land beyond, to the north was just called 'Alta California' (Alta= Upper). Over the years, 'California' became Baja California (Baja= Lower)... and after the Americans took over the land north of the peninsula, Alta California became just 'Califiornia'. The body of water the seperates the peninsula from mainland Mexico remained as the Gulf of California... Baja was never added to its name.

 

You would enjoy a book published a few years ago (that I helped a bit with): 'Saints and Demons in a Desert Wilderness' A History and Guide to Baja California's Spanish Missions by Dave Werschkul c2003 published by XLibris Book https://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.aspx?bookid=18289

It goes into detail on those different methods used by the three Catholic Orders to manage the native Indians... who were eventually wiped-out by diseases, introduced by the Spanish.

 

Here is a map of California (Baja y Alta) from 1845 when this was all part of Mexico.

 

WOW.
This trip looks amazing.
I'm about to start my geology class tomorrow and this exactly shows how mountains, rocks and dirt tell so much about the lands past. Not just to see the land but to read the land.

 

Yes, during the Jesuit period (ended in 1768) a second presidio was established at San Jose del Cabo (in 1737). It survived only until 1741 when it became a 'sub-presidio' of Loreto... called the Escuadra del Sur or 'Presidio of the South'. It was moved to Todos Santos, in 1748.

During the Dominican period, some missions served more as forts than churches, such as San Pedro Martir and Santa Catalina... both located in the middle of the peninsula to fend of attacks by hostile desert Indians to protect the mission chain closer to the Pacific coast.

 

Cool beans, i wish i had a place to see like that around here.

 

They are all amazing... but finding the site originally reported in the 1966 Desert Magazine by Choral Pepper was a quest of mine of many years.
That the cactus have harldy changed in 40 years is pretty amazing!

 

Did you know about the ancsetry forums for Baja?
Northern Baja: http://boards.ancestry.com/localities.northam.mexico.bajacalifornianorte/mb.ashx

Southern Baja: http://boards.ancestry.com/localities.northam.mexico.bajacaliforniasur/mb.ashx

Continue your research!
I am happy to help with Baja history, maps, travel...