OTHER TIDBITS: Padre Garcés had become friends with a converted Quechan chief named Palma, and the Spanish king saw this as an opportunity to settle the area. Garcés had reservations, though! The reason many of the other California missions worked was because the local tribes simply hunted and gathered off the land, but in this area, the tribes were farmers who would resent having their land appropriated by the Spanish! Nonetheless, Commandante Carlos de Croix ordered two missions and settlements to be built in the area. The Quechans were not treated well, and, as Garcés predicted, they revolted, killed the priests, and destroyed the missions!

• Become a member of the Imperial County Historical Society!
• Become a member of E Clampus Vitus, Squibob Chapter!
• Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!

ANNOTATIONS:
Forget Picacho Road! Pichacho Road is almost a mile north of here! The mission is at the intersection of Museum Drive and Quechan Drive! There is a tribal government parking lot nearby with empty spaces, and while I didn’t see any signs telling me not to park, use your best judgment!

From Los Angeles: ~270mi (435km) — 4.5hrs
From Sacramento: ~654mi (1053km) — 10.9hrs
From San Diego: ~170mi (274km) — 2.9hrs
From San Francisco: ~650mi (1047km) — 10.9hrs