Guaymas History, Mexico

It was the year 1703 when the hints for the birth of this city were first observed. It was Juan Salvatierra, a Jesuit Missionary, who laid the foundation of San José de Guaymas. This new town was situated around few kilometers from the nearby bay which was part of California Gulf (also known as Golfo de California). Soon after the establishment of this mission local natives called as Seri (which was an indigenous group that used to live in various parts of Sonora) started opposing this mission and many times attacked this mission. In the years to come this mission of San José de Guaymas was abandoned due to the attacks but soon re - established. The processes of abandoning and re - establishment of this mission continued for many years to come due to the continuous opposing by the local Seri natives.

This same city happens to be the oldest port for the Gulf of California and was the hub where the first mission for the Baja region actually got started. The foundation for the first mission on Baja was established in the proximity of today’s Laredo (which situated in the state of Baja California).

Finally it was the year 1769 when José de Gálvez laid the foundation for this town of Guaymas and started the first few plots of this town. It was the year 1859 when the town of Guaymas was officially tagged as a city and by the year 1862 it was after the consent of local congress men when the city of Guaymas was named as Guaymas de Zaragoza.

It was the mid of 19th century when the port of this city faced two attacks which did shake the city to some extent. It was the year 1854 when José María Yáñez led a team so as to suppress the filibusters group which was under Gaston Rousset Bourbon. Later on it was the year 1865 when multiple ships having French Army men took control of Guaymas Port and maintained their control till September of 1866. This extended control did hit the economy of Guaymas by huge margins.

An interesting book which talks about the life of a general human being in the city of Guaymas during the later 1960s and early years of 1970s is David E. Stuart’s The Guaymas Chronicles.