San Borja in Photos (1949-2017)

Full name: San Francisco de Borja Adac

Founding date: September 1, 1762 Mission #16

Catholic Order: Jesuit

Founded by: Padre Wenceslaus Linck

Condition: Adobe ruins from 1759-1773. Stone church from 1801.

Closing date: Closed in 1818

GPS: 28.744547, -113.753997

Access: Mex. #1 Km. 52 (south of Punta Prieta at Nuevo Rosarito), east 22 miles or Mex. #12 Km. 45 (L.A. Bay highway), south 21 miles.

Read more: HERE

2017 photos by David Kier

Main entrance faces south.

This mission (founded in 1762), is the furthest north stone mission church on the peninsula, replacing the adobe churches built by the Franciscans and Jesuits before them. The stone church construction lasted to 1801. The spiral stairway to the roof, never got a bell tower, as planned. The Indian die-off from a high of 1,700 (here and more living at various visitas) to just 400 neophytes, spelled an end to the vigorous dreams for a Spanish colony. By 1816, no more reports came from San Borja after the last resident priest left.

That steel awning was constructed in 2000, to protect the adobe ruins, behind the stone church.
Some of the ruins not covered have a plaster coating to preserve them.

Some of the village that was once here at San Borja.                                                                                              

2016 photos by David Kier

A large brick building with a clock tower

2009 photos by David Kier

2004 photos by David Kier

July 2003

Providing tours inside the mission is Theodoro. His dog was bit by a rattlesnake a couple months ago!

José and Family at San Borja
The kids of San Borja bring a mule for Sarah and Andee to ride.
Sarah and Andee take a mule ride!

2002 Photos by Steve Cox ‘Bedman’ (with David Kier)

2001 photos by Michael Curtis and David Kier

Here is José, who with his family, guide visitors to the mission and nearby attractions. He played host to Graham Mackintosh during Graham’s 1000 mile walk down Baja, in 1997. Read ‘Journey with a Baja Burro’ available from the author at http://www.grahammackintosh.com
Top of the stairway to the never completed bell tower, Mission San Borja.
Recently, a mission restoration/conservation group erected this steel awning over part of the original Jesuit ruins at San Borja.                                                                                          

 

2000 photos by Jack Swords

Historic Photos:

1974 Photos by Harry Crosby

1967 photos by Harry Crosby

Don Jorge Arce Villavicencio at San Borja

1960s by Choral Pepper 

1960s photos by Erle Stanley Gardner

Looking down on San Borja from the top of the mesa.

Photos by Howard Gulick

1960:

1954:

1952:

1949 photo by Marquis McDonald

Santisimo Rosario Mission, ruins