Founding date January 7, 1781 | ||
Location Imperial County, California, near Yuma, Arizona Name as founded La Misión de San Pedro y San Pablo de Bicuñer English translation The Mission of Saint Peter and Saint Paul of Bicuñer Patron The Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul Founding priest(s) Father Francisco Garcés | ||
Mission San Pedro y San Pablo de Bicuñer was founded on January 7, 1781 by Father Francisco Garcés to protect the Anza Trail where it forded the Colorado River.
The settlement, located about ten miles northeast of Yuma Crossing, was not part of the California mission chain, but was administered as a part of the Arizona missions. The Mission site and nearby pueblo was inadequately supported, and Spanish colonists seized the best lands, destroyed the Indians' crops, and generally ignored the rights of the local natives.
In retaliation, the Quechan (Yuma) Indians and their allies attacked and destroyed the installation and the neighboring Mission Puerto de Purísima Concepción during a three-day period, from July 17–19, 1781. Some 50 Spaniards, including Father Garcés (along with three other friars and Captain Fernando Rivera y Moncada) were killed, and the women and children taken captive. The natives' victory closed this crossing and seriously crippled future communications between Las Californias and New Spain-Mexico.
Today, only a historical marker identifies the site. The marker is on Imperial County Road 524, 0.2 mi W of intersection of Levee and Mehring Roads, 4.4 mi NE of Bard, California.