The Santa Barbara Mission was the tenth of the California Missions to be founded by the Spanish Franciscans. It was established on the Feast of St. Barbara, December 4, 1786.

Padre Junipero Serra, who had founded the first nine Missions, had died 2 years earlier. It was Padre Fermin Francisco de Lasuen, his successor, who raised the cross and made the first converts.

The original buildings were unpretentious and made of adobe. Over time three adobe churches were constructed on the grounds, each larger than the one before until the fourth and present church was built in 1820. The third was destroyed by earthquake in 1812. The fountain in front was built in 1808.

The earthquake of June 29, 1925 damaged the Mission church and friary considerably. The earthquake occurred during a chapel service. People rushed out of the chapel while the beams in the front of the church fell. Fortunately no one was hurt. Restoration work was completed in 1927 and the towers reinforced in 1953.

Prior to the arrival of the Spanish, the land from Malibu to San Luis Obispo was inhabited by the Chumash Indians. They were hunters and gatherers oriented to the sea. They built plank boats (tomols) which were capable of traveling to the Channel Islands. Chumash villages were autonomous, headed by a hereditary leader. Houses were semi-oval huts built of tule. Basketry was a major art form as were stone bowls and tools. Houses were dome shaped with tules covering a willow frame.

The Franciscans taught the Indians agriculture. The principal products of the field were wheat, barley, corn, beans and peas. Orange and olive trees were planted and vines were cultivated. An Indian dam was built in 1807 to bring water to the mission via an aqueduct. Mission Santa Barbara had cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, mules and horses in great number. In 1809 there were 5,200 head of cattle and in 1803 11,221 head of sheep.

The early buildings at the Mission were constructed in log cabin style. The cracks between the logs were filled with mud and stones. Among the very first buildings constructed were a residence, a chapel, a kitchen, and a storeroom for grain.

When the Mission period was over, the buildings were used for a number of purposes. From 1868 until 1877 the Franciscans conducted a high school and junior college.

Related Links

California Missions Foundation at www.missionsofcalifornia.org

California Mission Studies Association at www.ca-missions.org

California Missions at missions.bgmm.com

Santa Barbara Mission Archive Library at www.sbmal.org

St. Barbara Parish at www.sbmission.org