Photos of the 27+ Baja's Historic mission sites, 2017 except where stated. Plus Petroglyphs!

Baja California was the the first California! The peninsula was home to the first 18 Spanish California missions founded over 72 years BEFORE San Diego mission was founded. 9 more missions in Baja were founded after San Diego, as well.

This is a look at my most recent photos of the missions, most taken in 2017...

Normally, when I do a photo series on the missions, they are done in the order the missions were founded. Loreto being #1, naturally. The history of the missions, which were early colonies in California is most interesting... especially in Baja... a land so rugged, such undertakings are nearly impossible in today's world let alone 300 years ago!

This time, I will do the missions from north to south. Except for Mission San Pedro Mártir, they are all my photos. Photos not otherwise dated were taken in 2017. Mission name followed by year founded or site developed.

Where there are ruins from multiple sites for the same mission, letters will be added to the number.





One photo per mission cannot nor does not show enough!

#26 El Descanso 1830:


#22 San Miguel 1787:


#27 Guadalupe (del Norte) 1834:


#25 Santa Catalina 1797 (2018 photo):


#23-a Santo Tomás 1st site 1791 (2011 photo):


#23-b Santo Tomás 2nd site 1794 (2009 photo):


#23-c Santo Tomás 3rd site 1799:


#21 San Vicente 1780:


#24 San Pedro Mártir 1794 (2004 photo by Jack Swords):


#20 Santo Domingo 1775:


#19-a El Rosario 1st site 1774:


#19-b El Rosario 2nd site 1802:


#18 San Fernando 1769:


#17-b Santa María final site 1767 (2010 photo):


#17-a Calamajué 1st Santa María site 1766 (2016 photo):


#16 San Borja 1762:


#15 Santa Gertrudis 1752:


#11 San Ignacio 1728:


#8 Guadalupe 1720:


#4 Mulegé 1705:


#5-a Comondú 1st site 1708:


#5-b Comondú final site 1736:


#6 La Purísima 1720:


#1 Loreto 1697:


#2 San Javier 1699:


#3 Ligüí 1705:


#14 San Luis Gonzaga 1737:


#9-a Los Dolores Apaté 1721:


#9-b La Pasión (final Dolores site) 1741:


#7-a Pilar de la Paz first site plaque 1720:


#10 Santiago 1724 (modern church on mission site):


#13 & #7-b Santa Rosa 1733/ La Paz 2nd site 1748 (modern church near Todos Santos on mission site):


#7-c Pilar de la Paz 3rd site 1825 (remodled mission church in Todos Santos):


#12 San Jose del Cabo 1730-1748, 1768-1840. (2012 photo of modern church on site):


So, that is my one shot of each mission most of them taken in 2016-2018.

 

Details available upon request...
This book fits in your Tacoma glove box, too!

 

Very cool, great pics!

 

Thank you! They are artifacts from the past... time machines. Texas has many Spanish missions. Most only know of the Alamo... and even some of them may not know it was a mission! Remember the Alamo!

 

Hi David,

I like how you acknowledge “Alta” California... does that stand for “alternative”?

Regarding your book, I’m interested in getting a copy so will check out your website. Also, do you have good maps or GPS locations listed?
Thanks!

-Anthony

 

Hi Anthony.
Great question on Alta California! Every California should have been taught the history in school, sadly, no. Have you heard of Baja California? "Baja" (pronounced bah-hah) is Spanish for lower (as in Lower California).

That land (Baja California) was the original California. Once the Spanish began to occupy the land north of the peninsula in 1769 (the peninsula that we call 'Baja California now) they had no new name for it other than to say it was Upper California... in Spanish: "Alta".

Well, if you have an Upper California than the original California needs a modifier to avoid confusion, so it became Baja California. For a time it was known also as Antigua or Old California, and Alta California was called Nueva or New California.

Las Californias (The two Californias) pledged their loyalty to the new Empire of Mexico in 1822 the year following Spain's loss of their colony of Mexico. Mexico became a republic after just a couple years.

At the end of the Mexican-American War, in 1848, the United States bought Alta California and dropped Alta from the name. Mexico continued to call the peninsula "Baja California" even though it was the original California.

The maps in my book are to help get an idea of where on the peninsula the missions are located, plus I have a few historic maps, as well. For current maps I have made of Baja roads for a new road guide I am producing, see this post on Baja Nomad Forums: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=88771

Orders from www.oldmissions.com do come from me, and I will sign the book. You can also buy it on Amazon and other places.

I have the GPS for every mission and more sites in Baja, in my book, yes!




This map is black & white, in the book.


Sample mission locator map.

 

Of interest, in the 2018 printing of my book, I was able to update the photo on page 88 of what the site looks like and there are some foundation stones visible.

 

With so much news about Baja California lately, we should reflect on the origins of California and 'Baja' is where California began (as far as the Europeans are concerned) nearly 500 years ago.

Naturally, people were on the peninsula of California long before the Spanish and others. Evidence of the pre-European inhabitants of Baja can be seen in the many fantastic painted cave art sites and rock covered petroglyphs found all over Baja.

Here is a sampling of my photos at a few of these sites. If at all possible, try to include them as you travel through Baja...

Mesa El Carmen:


We can see the giant paintings.



































MONTEVIDEO (off the San Borja road):














ARROYO SAN FERNANDO (a mile west of the mission):














LAS PINTAS:














CATAVIÑA (2 miles north, on top of boulder hill):














LAS TINAJITAS (San Borja region):











PETROGLYPH PARK (site we found 20 miles east of El Socorro):














LA VIBORA CANYON (8 miles from Guadalupe Canyon):













These photos are all found in my web site VivaBaja.com, most with directions. Las Tinajitas is best found using the guide service of Jose Gerardo and family of San Borja.

There are so many more sites... Baja is a magic place!

 

A few months after I posted these petroglyph photos, Scott Wolter (host of TV's America Unearthed) wanted to see that 'ship' petroglyph! In February 2019, the TV production crew picked me up in San Diego and I spent the next three days filming a part of their Vikings in the Desert episode (it was the Season 4 opener, May 2019). Sadly, the Baja portion of the show was edited down to just 4 minutes!!!
Here are those Baja minutes with Scott and I (plus 5 TV crew members, unseen):
https://youtu.be/p7qPoqHSPXE

 

Some of the production crew and Scott making like a cactus: