Santo Domingo in photos (1886-2025)

Full name: Santo Domingo

Founding date: August 30, 1775 (relocated 2.5 miles east in 1798) Mission #20

Catholic Order: Dominican

Founded by: Padre Miguel Hidalgo, Padre Manuel Garcia

Condition: Adobe ruins at second site.

Closing date: Closed in 1822

GPS: 30.770889, -115.937222

Access: Mex. #1, Km. 169, south of Ensenada, 5 miles east.

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 2.5 miles inland from the red cliff.

>> To see where this mission is, maps and directions at bottom of page <<

The red cliff where Santo Domingo was first established. On the right side, the white letters HR are still visible for Hamilton Ranch (a guest ranch, closed in the 1970s).
1955 photo from Howard Gulick at the first mission site. Note the HR on the hillside for the nearby Hamilton Ranch.

2025

2017

2014

Note the helicopter and dust where it landed in the background.

“David Kier, your guide to the missions” promo shot. Yes, I ‘got baja’! It was sure a blast to be invited by Cameron to join the tour for three of the days and appear (briefly) on his TV show. I flew in with the helicopter and returned on it.

2005

Elizabeth & David Kier, Santo Domingo selfie, October 2005.

2003 (Jack Sword photo)

1954 (Howard Gulick photo)

1926 (Peveril Meigs photo)

1894 (photo provided by David Marrón and Ensenada’s history museum)

1886 (photo provided by Robert Jackson)