THE OLD MISSIONS OF BAJA & ALTA CALIFORNIA (NEW BOOK)

A little late to the party. My kid's school does presentations on the missions. I'm going to donate one to my oldest's class and keep one at home for my youngest.

 

Thank you for the order, and they were delivered personally this afternoon! Nice when you live just over a mile from me!

If you or your child needs any more mission help... or wants to have a 'missions book author' talk to the class... just ask!
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For anyone curious about Old California History:

One big reason for the book was to 'complete' the story that isn't told or told fully in the California school system. The errors should be cleared up, including such things as San Diego was the 'first' California mission; that missions were built one day's ride apart from south to north, etc.

The mission system in 'California' started 72 years before San Diego de Alcalá was founded (as the 19th California mission)... 'California' was the originally the peninsula that today is called Baja California, Mexico. The land from San Diego north was known as 'Alta' (Upper) or 'Nueva' (New) California when the missions were built here (in today's California, now USA). Missions were being built in Baja California during the same years as in Alta California. The last California mission was in Baja California... and they all were originally Spanish California Missions... with the last two being founded AFTER Mexico won its independence from Spain (1821)... so we call them 'Mexican Missions' to make that clear in the book. The United States gained Alta California in 1847, many years after the mission system had ended (due to Mexico's independence or lack of neophytes, the native Indians converting to Christianity).

Most of the missions fell into ruin after they were closed. However, some were and still are magnificent stone churches and remain serving the people in the places they were built, in Baja California. The majority of missions were made of adobe and they all fell into ruin. Those in Alta California have been rebuilt but those in Baja California have only some walls or foundations remaining with some restoration or preservation being performed by the Mexican archaeology institute, INAH.

Some sample of Spanish California stone constructed missions as the appear today, in Baja California (with the year of their founding):


San Javier (1699)


Santa Rosalia de Mulege (1705)


San Ignacio (1728)


San Luis Gonzaga (1737)


San Borja (1762)

 

It has been a year since our book was first published and has since had several printings and a revised second edition published. We are working on a Spanish edition now. Thank you for your support and interest! Baja is where California began...

 

Christmas Gift Idea for 2013: The 2013 Edition of 'The Old Missions of Baja & Alta California'... Free shipping to U.S. and Canada from our web site: http://oldmissions.com
Also available at Amazon.com or from California and Baja California selected distributers!

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