Shell Island, 40 years in photos (1978-2018)

The long, narrow barrier island beach, between Percebu and Bahía Santa María, is backed by lagoons on the north and the south, that fill at high tide. During lunar high tides, these two lagoons connect and this narrow beach is surrounded by water. This is why I named it Shell Island (in 1978) instead of […]

Rosario de Abajo in photos (2004-2017 + )

In 1802, the El Rosario mission (founded in 1774) moved two miles down the valley and across the river, after the spring by the mission failed. It was now located close to the river and farmlands. While the mission’s official name was Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Viñadaco, after the move the new location was […]

Santo Domingo in photos (1886-2017)

The second Dominican California mission was named Santo Domingo and located at the mouth of a long valley, a few miles from the ocean. A red-colored cliff was next to the new mission and the first services were held on August 30, 1775, in a cave in the cliff. In 1798, the mission was relocated […]

Rosario de Arriba in photos (2004-2017 + 1949-1961)

The first ‘El Rosario’ mission and first Dominican California mission was founded in 1774 at a place called Viñadaco by the Cochimí Natives. A spring provided water in the gully next to the mission until it stopped flowing in 1802, That was when the Dominicans moved the mission about two miles down the valley and […]

1974 Score Baja Internacional

In July of 1974, at the invitation of the government of Baja California and Ensenada businessmen, Mickey Thompson brought his SCORE organization (originally developed for Short Course Off Road Events, with grandstand viewing) to Mexico for the first of many point-to-point desert races on the peninsula (and in the U.S.). Mexico had cancelled NORRA’s permit […]

Santa Gertrudis in photos (2001, 2012, 2017)

> To see where Mission Santa Gertrudis is, see maps and directions at bottom of page << This mission has a unique and sometimes confused history as it had originally been planned to be named Dolores del Norte. That name appeared on Jesuit records and maps of the early to mid 1700s. Padre Fernando Consag […]

San Fernando in photos 1974-2017 (with 1926 photos)

>>To see where Mission San Fernando de Velicatá is, see maps and directions at bottom of page<< 2017 1 mile west and south, down the arroyo, and past the petroglyphs, is the mission ‘pila’ or reservoir. Below, two photos showing the water canal that once brought water here from upstream. INAH Plans: reservoir and canal: […]

Santa María (2022, 2010, 2007, 2003, 1999)

The following are my photos from five visits to Mission Santa María, from the photo albums of VivaBaja.com, showing the man-made artifacts from the 1700s (mainly in 1768 by the Franciscans who replaced the Jesuits in California, who founded this mission in October 1766 (at Calamajué) and moved it here in May 1767, for better […]

Travel log on El Camino Real,1792

Longinos Martínez, José (c. 1755–1803) José Longinos Martínez (b. ca. 1755; d. 1803), naturalist in New Spain (1787–1803). A native of Calahorra, Spain, Longinos studied botany at the Royal Botanical Garden in Madrid before traveling to Mexico in 1787. Longinos preferred the study of animals and spent his time in Mexico studying birds, butterflies, fish, and mammals. He traveled through […]

Auto Club maps of San Felipe South area (1930-2010)

Not all years included, see message at bottom. Maps shown for historical education. 1930: 1934: 1955: 1959: 1962: 1967: 1971: 1973: 1974:   1975: 1978: 1979: 1980: 1982: 1983: 1984: 1985: 1987: 1988: 1989: 1990: 1991: 1992: 1994: 1995: 1996: 1997: 1998: 2000: 2001: 2003: 2004: 2007: 2010: Missing some Auto Club Maps, can you […]

Gulick’s 1954 El Camino Real Maps and Notes

Gulick, Howard E. “The Baja California Mission Trail – Loreto to El Rosario.” *Unpublished paper made available by the author. Encompasses intelligent and informed suppositions about the route of El Camino Real. Although it is supplanted by first-hand field research, it remains a model preliminary study, marshalling all manner of indirect evidence of the trail. […]

Rock Art: Petroglyphs, Pictographs, Geoglyphs

The stories these forms of communications would be wonderful to know! What do we mean by petroglyphs, pictographs, and geoglyphs? *Petroglyphs are rock carvings (rock paintings are called pictographs) made by pecking directly on the rock surface using a stone chisel and a hammerstone. When the desert varnish (or patina) on the surface of the […]

Photographs

See over 1,600 location photos on this interactive map. Zoom in to reveal multiple photos at specific locations. CLICK HERE to quickly find photos at Baja locations (1999-2022)! Baja California Travel and Camping Photos (1965-2022): 1965-1999 Photos  “David’s Old Baja Photo Album”  1999 – 2004 Baja Trip Photo Albums (28 albums) 2005 – 2007 Baja Trip […]

San Borja (2017, 2016, 2009, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001)

The following are photos at San Borja from my seven visits there, off my photo albums. >> To see where this mission is, maps and directions at the bottom of this page << Feb. 2017 Sept. 2016 July 2009   Jan. 2004   July 2003   Apr. 2002   Apr. 2001 GPS: 28.744547, -113.753997 Directions: […]

Viva Baja Index (frequently updated)

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