Mission Photos (oldest to newest)
Map and photos by David Kier (unless otherwise credited) Also see Mission Albums for more historic to recent photos, plus the chapter for each mission from my book is included. The following photos are shown from the oldest, Loreto in 1697, to the final mission founded, in 1834. To see the missions from north to […]
2009-1 Trip of Discovery
The 1966 Erle Stanley Gardner expedition, had a goal to drive their caravan of 4x4s and dune buggies (called Grasshoppers) from L.A. Bay to Rancho El Barril. Maps of the time showed no through road. Dick Daggett of L.A. Bay said it could be done! The Gardner Expedition made a side trip to Las Animas […]
Lost Missions
A chapter from the book by David Kier, Baja California Land of Missions … Missions that Never Were and Lost Missions One thing Baja California literature is not lacking in is the number of missions referred to that never were missions or were mythical, secret, or “lost missions.” Travel in Baja California before the mid-1970s […]
San José del Cabo in photos (1919-2026)
Full name: San José del Cabo Añuití Founding date: April 8, 1730 (relocated 3 times) Mission #12 Catholic Order: Jesuit Founded by: Padre Nicolás Tamaral, Padre José de Echeverría Condition: Modern church on final site. Closing date: Closed from 1748 to 1768 and finally in 1840. GPS: 23.062139, -109.695639 Access: Mex. #1 Km. 32 (south of La Paz) east & south 1 km. Read […]
Santa Rosa in photos (1950-2017)
Full name: Santa Rosa de las Palmas Founding date: August 1733 Mission #13 Catholic Order: Jesuit Founded by: Padre Sigusmundo Taraval Condition: No ruins remain. Modern church and playground on the site, along Highway 19. Closing date: Mission Santa Rosa was terminated in 1748 when the older mission at La Paz relocated to here. GPS: 23.460316, -110.219140 Access: Mex. #19 Km. 49.5 (north edge […]
Santiago in photos (1919-2017)
Full name: Santiago el Apóstol Aiñiní Founding date: 1724 (relocated 2 miles south in 1736) Mission #10 Catholic Order: Jesuit Founded by: Padre Ignacio Nápoli Condition: Modern church on second site. Closing date: Closed in 1795. GPS: 23.475694, -109.717333 Access: Mex. #1 Km. 84.5 (south of La Paz), west 1.9 miles (paved). Read more: HERE After a 1722-1723 mission-building project failed at Morinó (Santa Ana), […]
Mission Pilar de la Paz in photos (1919-2017)
Full name: Nuestra Señora del Pilar de la Paz Founding date: November 3, 1720 (relocated 50 miles south to Santa Rosa/Todos Santos in 1748, then 1 mile south in 1825) Mission #7 Catholic Order: Jesuit Founded by: Padre Jaime Bravo, Padre Juan de Ugarte Condition: No ruins remain at La Paz or the second site. Reconstructed, enlarged church at the […]
San Luis Gonzaga in photos (1950 to 2017)
Full name: San Luis Gonzaga Chiriyaqui Founding date: July 14, 1737 Mission #14 Catholic Order: Jesuit Founded by: Padre Lambert Hostell Condition: Stone church constructed from 1753 to 1758 Closing date: Closed on August 20, 1768 by the Spanish government. GPS: 24.908056, -111.290903 Access: Mex. #1 Km. 195 (north of La Paz) east 22 miles. Read more: HERE 2017 photos by David Kier 2002 photos […]
Los Dolores
Full name: Nuestra Señora de los Dolores Founding date: August 2, 1721 (relocated 15 miles southwest in 1741 to La Pasión) Mission #9 Catholic Order: Jesuit Founded by: Padre Clemente Guillén Condition: Ruins at two sites, with only rubble and foundation stones at final site. Closing date: Closed in 1768 by the Spanish government. GPS: 25.055543, -110.884425 (second site, Apaté) 17 miles east […]
Ligüí in Photos (1950-2017)
Full name: San Juan Bautista de Ligüí (de Malibat) Founding date: November 1705 Mission #3 Catholic Order: Jesuit Founded by: Padre Pedro de Ugarte Condition: No ruins since 2001. Closing date: Abandoned in 1721. GPS: 25.739500, -111.264167 Access: Mex. #1 Km. 84 (south of Loreto) east 1/2 mile. Read more: HERE February 2017 photos by David Kier July 2012 photos by David Kier July 2009 […]
Loreto in photos 1906-2017
Full name: Nuestra Señora de Loreto Conchó Founding date: October 25, 1697 Mission #1 of 27 Catholic Order: Jesuit Founded by: Padre Juan María de Salvatierra Condition: Stone church constructed from 1740 to about 1750. New roof and bell tower added in 1955. Closing date: Closed in 1829. GPS: 26.010278, -111.343278 Access: Mex. #1 Km. 0 (Loreto) east 2 kms. Read more: HERE Feb. 2017 […]
La Purísima in photos (1906-2017)
Full name: La Purísima Concepción de Cadegomó Founding date: January 1, 1720 Mission #6 Catholic Order: Jesuit Founded by: Padre Nicolás Tamaral Condition: No church ruins, two crypts remain to mark the mission. Closing date: Closed in 1826. GPS: 26.190444, -112.072944 Access: One block north of paved BCS #53, east end of town, 72 miles north of Ciudad Insurgentes. Read more: HERE 2017 photos […]
Baja-526 May 2026 Tour
Baja California is a land of seemingly endless attractions and points of interest. * On May 15-19, Dave Wilcher and David Kier plan to see several sites in the region of San Felipe to Bahía de los Angeles. The following is a list of potential locations to visit. We are not committed to see them […]
Santa Rosalía de Mulegé in photos (1930-2019)
Full name: Santa Rosalía de Mulegé Founding date: November 1705 Mission#4 Catholic Order: Jesuit Founded by: Padre Juan Basaldúa Condition: Stone church constructed 1757 to 1766. Closing date: Closed in 1828. GPS: 26.885339, -111.985979 Access: Mex. #1 Km. 134 west 1 km. Read more: HERE May 2019 photos by David Kier February 2017 photos by David Kier July 2007 photos by David Kier […]
Guadalupe de Huasinapí in photos (1953-2019)
Full name: Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Huasinapí Founding date: December 12, 1720 Mission #8 Catholic Order: Jesuit Founded by: Padre Everarado Helen Condition: Ruins from the 1750s. Closing date: Closed in 1795. GPS: 26.918403, -112.405787 Access: Mex. #1 Km. 131.5 (Mulegé) east & north 41 miles. Read more: HERE May 2019 drone photos of mission site by Jimmy Lee Cook May 2019 photos […]