Misión Santa Rosalía de Mulegé
Encyclopedia
Mission Santa Rosalía de Mulegé was founded in 1705 by the Jesuit missionary Juan Manuel de Basaldúa at a ranchería of the local Cochimí
Cochimi
The Cochimí are the aboriginal inhabitants of the central part of the Baja California peninsula, from El Rosario in the north to San Javier in the south....
which was known as Mulegé
Mulegé
Mulegé is an oasis town in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur, situated at the mouth of the Río de Santa Rosalía. It is the fourth-largest community in Mulegé Municipality...
, in Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur , is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state on October 8, 1974, the area was known as the South Territory of Baja California. It has an area of , or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises...
, Mexico. The site lies near the entrance of Bahía de Concepción
Bahía Concepción, Baja California Sur
Bahía Concepción is one of the largest bays of Baja California. Lying on the Sea of Cortez, and less than 20 miles south of Mulegé, Bahía Concepción features over 50 miles of beaches...
, on the Gulf of California coast.
A few odd details of the mission's history are known. A hurricane in 1717 devastated the agricultural fields that supported the settlement. Construction of a stone church was begun in 1766. In 1768, when the Franciscans took over responsibility for Baja California from the Jesuits, there were reportedly still some 300 Indian neophytes at Mulegé. However, by 1770, the mission was virtually deserted. The Dominicans
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
, who succeeded the Franciscans in 1773, began rebuilding, but the population remained less than 100. The mission ceased to function in 1828. The present church buildings have been extensively restored.