The Spanish Missions of Baja California, Part 2: The Franciscan and Dominican Missions 1769-1849

Depending on the source, there were either 8 or 10 more missions established in Baja California after the Jesuits were removed from New Spain in 1768. The first post-Jesuit mission was the only one founded in Baja California by the Franciscan Order, San Fernando Velicata, in 1769. In 1773, the California peninsula missions were handed over to the Dominican Order and the Franciscans continued establishing missions in Alta California. The Dominicans established up to 9 new missions, with the final 2 being disputed by some historians as being simply new locations for Mission San Miguel. The name and years for each mission will be followed by a recent photograph (taken between 2000-2008) then some will be followed by older photos to compare the sites. GPS waypoints are at map datum WGS84. On the final page are links to more Baja California history web pages, including the mission visitas and detailed maps and satellite images of the Camino Real mission road.

Northern Baja Missions

A close-up of Peveril Meigs map to show the location of the final 10 mission sites in Baja California, north of Santa Maria.

The final 10 Baja California missions San Fernando Velicata was the only Franciscan founded mission in Baja California. The Dominicans assumed control of the Baja California missions in 1773. 18) San Fernando Velicata 1769-1818 19) Nuestra Señora del Rosario Viñaraco 1774-1832 (Moved 2 miles west in 1802) 20) Santo Domingo 1775-1839 (Moved 2 miles east in 1793) 21) San Vicente Ferrer 1780-1833 22) San Miguel Arcangel 1787-1834 (moved 7 miles west in 1788) 23) Santo Tomas de Aquino 1791-1849 (moved 1 mile northeast in 1794, and 2 miles east in 1799) 24) San Pedro Martir de Verona 1794-1806 (moved 7 miles south and nearly 2,000' lower in elevation, after 3 months) 25) Santa Catalina Virgen y Martir 1797-1840 26) El Descanso 1817-1834 (Also called 'San Miguel Nuevo', moved 1/2 mile north in 1830) 27) Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe 1834-1840