Last jesuit & first franciscan california missions

Baja California is home to 27 missions, includingthe first 18 California Missions.

Missions in Baja California were administered in: 1697 to 1768 by the Jesuits, 1768 to 1773 by the Franciscans,1773 to 1854 by the Dominicans.

Map from Edward Vernon

The California Peninsula is theLAND OF MISSIONS

On March 5, 1766 the future mission location of Velicatáwas discovered by the Jesuit Padre Wenceslao Linck on his expedition from Mission San Borja to find sites towards the Colorado River.

Calamajué/ Santa Maríawas California’s 17th mission.

Velicatá (San Fernando) was too far from San Borja, so the Jesuits established a mission midway.

The mission at Calamajué was founded Oct. 16, 17662012 Photo by David Kier

Chris Kier on El Camino Real, 5.6 miles west of Hwy. 5, in 2003

David Kier on El Camino Real

EL CAMINO REAL TO SANTA MARIA

Only the most rugged vehicles and drivers can reach Santa María today!

The ‘Widowmaker’ grade stops most drivers, 1.2 miles from the mission.

The bog can be dry or up to 3 feet deep. 2010 was a wet year!

Rock are not the only road hazard going to the mission…

Mission Santa Maríade los Ángeles

#17 of the California Spanish Missions, 1766-1774

Mission Santa María de los Ángeles Oct. 16, 1766 at CalamajuéMay, 1767 at Cabujakaamang

1769 Mission Santa María as visualized by Charles Larson

1906 photo of Mission Santa María by Arthur North

1961 photo by Howard Gulick

1966 photo by J.W. Black

1999 photo by David Kier

West side of mission ruins. 2007 Photo by David Kier

Close look at side rooms in 2007 photo by David Kier

Doorway in 2007 photo by David Kier

Santa María’s only residents: Bighorns passing above our camp in 2007.

Mission Santa María2010 photo by David Kier

2010 photo by David Kier

Warehouse ruins, 10 miles northeast of Santa María onBahía San Luis Gonzaga?: Franciscan origin 1769+ Photo from 2002 by David Kier

2011 photo by Dr. Eric RitterAt Gonzaga Bay warehouse

San Fernando de Velicatá, first mission founded by JuníperoSerra, May 14, 1769. Photo of east side by G.W. Hendry in 1926.

San Fernando in 1974 photo of west side by David Kier

San Fernando in 1975 photo of east side by David Kier

2002 Photo of San Fernando by Jack Swords, east side.

2005 Photo of San Fernando by David Kier

Petroglyphs one mile west of mission in 2005 photograph by David Kier.

2012 Photo by Dr. Hans Berstch

Mission San Fernando as seen from helicopter in 2014 photo by David Kier during CBS Sports ‘Trail of Missions’ tour.