Mission Puerto de Purísima Concepción

The mission stands at the intersection of the Colorado River and historic trade routes, featuring traditional Spanish colonial architecture and indigenous construction methods.

Father Francisco Garcés established the mission in October 1780 as part of Spanish efforts to create a land route between Sonora and Alta California.

The mission represented a meeting point between Spanish missionaries and Quechan people, leading to conflicts over land use and agricultural practices.

A historical marker on Picacho Road in Fort Yuma, California, one mile south of Winterhaven Road, indicates the original location of the mission.

The mission operated for only nine months before the Quechan people destroyed it in July 1781, making it one of the shortest-lived Spanish missions.

GPS coordinates: 32.73058,-114.61562

Latest update: March 5, 2025 20:31