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| Landmark #921 | Imperial County | Visited: Sept. 16, 2013 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | A plaque is all that’s left of this destroyed mission! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: To protect the Anza Trail where it forded the Colorado River, the Spanish founded a pueblo and mission nearby on January 7, 1781. Threatened with the loss of their land, the Quechans (Yumas) attacked this strategic settlement on July 17, 1781. The Quechan victory closed this crossing and seriously crippled future communications between upper California and Mexico.
OTHER TIDBITS: This was the second, less documented of the two missions established by Padre Garcés along the Colorado River, and it was also the mission where Padre Garcés was giving Mass when the Quechan tribe attacked and beat him to death! Had the Spanish government respected his wishes and kept soldiers out of the area, he would probably have stayed friends with the Quechan people! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: On County Rd 524, 0.2 mi W of intersection of Levee and Mehring Rds 4.4 mi NE of Bard, CA 92222 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~282mi (454km) — 4.7hrs |
| When should I go? | Whenever the mood strikes you! |