Loreto

Loreto suffers from a lack of available facilities. The town has only one library for the entire municipality, one museum/cultural center, and no theaters.  Yet, Loreto has the most recognized historical and cultural heritage among the five municipalities in Baja California Sur.

Libraries in outlying areas should be prioritized, with targeted materials for children and young people, including internet and computers.  Training for art, music, ceramics, theater, and dance teachers in the schools could provide after-school activities, as well as possible professional career tracks. 

The architectural and historical buildings, artwork, and adjacent archaelogical sites need to be restored and conserved.  San Javier’s mission, the Cuevas Pintas (cave painting) sites, and the Jesuit missionary Juan de Ugarte have been identified as priorities.  In addition, altarpieces, historical archives, and artwork should be restored.

Oral history and folk tales are a dying tradition in Loreto and should be kept alive through recordings and catalogs.  The ranchera traditions that meld ancient California with the West need to be preserved, including their unique music.

(next page >>)