By David Kier http://www.vivabaja.com Co-author of ‘The Old Missions of Baja & Alta California, 1697-1834’ The history of the 8th California mission began in 1719 when Padre Juan de Ugarte discovered a forest of güérivo trees (Populus brandegeei) from which he could construct California’s first ship, ‘El Triunfo de la Cruz’. The Cochimí Indians of…
By David Kier http://www.vivabaja.com Co-author of ‘The Old Missions of Baja & Alta California, 1697-1834’ The seventh California mission was founded by two Jesuit padres: Jaime Bravo and Juan de Ugarte. The site was near the shore of La Paz Bay and locally known as Airapí. The journey to La Paz began at Loreto…
By David Kier http://www.vivabaja.com Co-author of ‘The Old Missions of Baja & Alta California, 1697-1834’ The sixth California mission was founded on January 1, 1720 by Jesuit Padre Nicolás Tamaral at a site originally discovered in 1712 by Padre Piccolo while exploring southwest from Mulegé. The mission prospered for several years and the Cochimí…
By David Kier http://www.vivabaja.com Co-author of ‘The Old Missions of Baja & Alta California, 1697-1834’ The fifth California mission was founded by the Jesuit Padre Julián de Mayorga about 30 miles northwest of Loreto and on a stream that flowed west to the Pacific Ocean. The new mission name was a combination of the Indian name…
By David Kier http://www.vivabaja.com Co-author of ‘The Old Missions of Baja & Alta California, 1697-1834’ San Juan Bautista de Ligüí mission was founded by the Jesuit Padre Pedro de Ugarte in November of 1705 among the Monqui Indians. Located near the beach 22 miles south of Loreto, Ligüí was the Monqui name for the location. In…
By David Kier http://www.vivabaja.com Co-author of ‘The Old Missions of Baja & Alta California, 1697-1834’ Having heard of an Indian settlement called ‘La Vigge’ hidden away amid a circle of virtually impassable mountains, Padre Francisco María Piccolo forced his way from Loreto up through rocky arroyos and precipitous passes until he reached the site. …
By David Kier http://www.vivabaja.com Co-author of ‘The Old Missions of Baja & Alta California, 1697-1834’ The chain of Spanish missions in California began at Loreto, on the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez). Previous to the founding of Loreto, there were many attempts to colonize the peninsula. The peninsula known today as Baja California. In 1535,…
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