Santa Rosalía de Mulegé Mission

The site of Mission Santa Rosalía de Mulegé was first explored by Father Juan María de Salvatierra in 1702; in 1703 it was visited by Fathers Francisco María Píccolo and Juan Manuel de Basaldúa, and the latter founded the mission there in 1705. It was Father Francisco Escalante who began the construction of the stone church in its present form, finishing it in approximately 1776. Following its complete abandonment in 1828, if fell into ruins and has been restored on several occasions, most recently by the I.N.A.H. in 1972-1973, retaining its exterior, but not interior, architectural characteristics.