Magdalena de Kino

History

The Magdalena valley was home to Tohono O'odham (Pápago), Upper Pima and Ópata people. The Jesuit Eusebio Francisco Kino reached the region in 1687 and began founding the chain of missions that taught new farming methods and gathered people into towns. Santa María Magdalena de Buquivaba, whose Ópata name means place by the river, was a visita of his mission at Dolores and one of his bases from about 1690. A first chapel built around 1690 was burned during an uprising in 1695 and rebuilt from 1705 under Father Agustín de Campos. Kino died here in 1711 and was buried in the chapel.

The mission was destroyed and rebuilt several times during the raids of the 18th century. After independence Magdalena became a district seat and, from 1854 to 1880, the site of the Mexican customs house before it moved to Nogales. The present church dates from the 19th century. Between 1919 and 1922 Venustiano Carranza had the building that is now the town hall put up to house the Sonora state congress, and Magdalena was given the rank of city in 1923.

Kino's grave had been lost for generations. After a long search his remains were found in 1966, the Plaza Monumental was built around them, and in 1968 the city was renamed Magdalena de Kino. It was named a Pueblo Mágico in 2012.