Address
2201 Laguna Street
Santa Bárbara, CA 93105
United States
Santa Bárbara
General Information
Founded:
December 4, 1786 - The 10th California Mission
Current Status:
Active Roman Catholic Church owned and operated by the Franciscans of the Santa Bárbara Province.
Summary:
Santa Bárbara, founded on December 4, 1786, is the only mission continuously operated by the Franciscans since its founding. This major mission has a distinctive church with a Neoclassical façade, a beautiful Moorish fountain, well-tended gardens, and a large museum. The only restored California Presidio is located in downtown Santa Bárbara.
Directions
Take US 101 to Santa Bárbara, exiting at Mission Street. Follow Mission Street for 0.9 miles and turn left on Laguna.
Website(s)
Phone(s)
805-682-4149 - Mission Gift Shop
805-682-4713 - Parish Office
Fees, Hours, Tours, and Church Services
Please contact the mission directly by telephone or by visiting the mission website for the most current tour information. Here are several suggestions to get you started:
- Do take the regular tour. Tickets are available in the gift shop. The entrance is directly across from the fountain.
- The ten-room museum, one of the largest among the California missions, has a unique collection of historic artifacts and interpretive displays. There is a reconstruction of an original mission kitchen.
- The museum includes a Chumash room, which contains a Chumash altar constructed for the 1789 church.
- The regular tour lets you view the front courtyard, which has a charming fountain.
- There is an entry to the church on the tour route.
- Near the end of the tour you will be in part of the mission cemetery where Juana Maria, the Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island is buried. Her story is detailed in Scott O'Dell's book, Island of the Blue Dolphins.
- In the cemetery, above the side entrance to the mission church, there are symbols of death embedded into the wall above the door.
- In addition to self-guided tours, visitors can take special-guided tours. Check the mission website for a listing of special tours, prices, availability, and times.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, it is best to check for current information.
Weddings and Other Special Services
Santa Bárbara is a popular site for weddings. There is a minimum of six (6) months lead time required. Contact the Parish office for details to determine date availability by telephone at 805-682-4713 or by visiting the mission website.
Special Events
This mission is the site of several special monthly and annual events. For the most current information and schedule, visit the mission website .
Unique Attractions
There are many attractions in front of the mission to view when you arrive or before you leave:
- The "Moorish" Fountain was built in 1808 and is the most attractive historic fountain in the mission chain.
- The reconstructed lavandería (laundry) is just beyond the Moorish fountain. Look for the mountain lion's head, built by the Chumash, located at the end of the lavandería.
- There is a large memorial cross on the front lawn. This is a great spot from which to photograph the church.
Visit the church, either as part of the regular tour, or if you have time, after church services.
- This neoclassical church, with twin towers and a magnificent setting, was completed in 1820 with one tower. The second tower was added in 1831.
- The church is filled with original and noteworthy art. A statue of the church's Patron, Saint Bárbara, is located above the altar.
- The two largest religious paintings in all of the missions are at Santa Bárbara. One painting, 168 inches high by 103 inches wide, depicts the "Assumption and Coronation of the Virgin". It is thought to have originated in the Mexico City studio of Miguel Mateo Maldonado y Cabrera.
Other Historic Attractions
- The Santa Bárbara Presidio is located at 123 East Canon Perdido Street. This State Historic Park is only one of the four mission-era presidios which has been restored.
- The Santa Bárbara Historical Museum is located at 136 East de La Guerra Street in downtown Santa Bárbara. There is always relevant art on display.
- The Santa Bárbara Museum of Natural History is located at 2559 Puesta Del Sol and is about ten (10) minutes from the mission. This museum is particularly useful for its Native American collections. Look for the display of a Chumash Village.
Tips for Visitors
- Allow enough time. You can easily spend a half day at Mission Santa Bárbara. The regular tour is a must. Based on the time you have available and your interests, sign up for any special tours so you can plan your day.
- As you exit the mission complex by car, just across the road is the Memorial Rose Garden, at Los Olivos and Laguna Streets (the garden's correct full name is the A.C. Postel Memorial Rose Garden). This extensive, well-tended garden has over 1,500 rose plants and is well-worth visiting for the quality and variety of the plantings. Equally important, the view of the Santa Bárbara mission from the garden is special, particularly early in the morning when the light is optimum.
Year Secularized
1834
Year Returned to Catholic Church
1865
Patron Saint (Named For)
Saint Bárbara, a legendary martyred church figure of the third (3rd) century.
Prominent Missionary Leaders
- Founding Father President - Fr. Fermin Francisco de Lasuèn
- Founding Missionaries - Fr. Antonío Paterna and Fr. Cristóbal Oramas
- Prominent Missionary Leaders - Fr. Narciso Durán, who was elected Father President of the missions in 1825 and again in 1830, made Santa Bárbara the chain's headquarters from 1833 to 1846.
Indians Joining Mission
Santa Bárbara was the third mission established in the land of the Chumash people at the native site of Xana'yan. The neophytes were referred to as Barbareño (after the mission) and Canaleños.
Mission Site
In the city of Santa Bárbara on a hill commanding a striking view of the sea.
Mission Layout
Santa Bárbara was laid out in the traditional quadrangle, with separate granaries, a weavery with patio, tannery, and neophyte housing forming additional courtyard-oriented squares.
Many of the existing buildings at the rear of the mission complex, however, were created to meet the needs of the seminary established in the 20th century. Most of the new construction follows the foundations of the old quadrangle.
Water Source
Water was channeled from a dam constructed in Pedregoso Creek high above the mission. A two-mile long stone aqueduct carried water to a storage reservoir, feeder reservoir, and settling tank constructed in 1806 and attributed to Indian mason Miguel Blanco of Baja California. A second aqueduct carried drinking water to the mission, its fountains, and lavandería or washing facilities.
Population
The highest population recorded was 1,792 in 1803.
Livestock
Santa Bárbara had a sizable livestock herd that exceeded 10,000 head in the years 1802-1823. In the peak year of 1821, the mission had 13,732 animals including 3,500 cattle and 9,000 sheep.
Agricultural Output
Over the years 1787-1834 Santa Bárbara reported harvesting 223,285 bushels of wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, garbanzos (chickpeas), and habas (broad beans). The mission had two (2) vineyards and many fruit trees.
Mission Church
The church was completed in 1820 with one tower. The second tower was added in 1831, collapsed within two years, and was rebuilt in 1833.
The Neoclassic façade was inspired by a mission archives copy of the Spanish edition of The Six Books of Architecture by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, a Roman architect of first (1st) century B.C.
Mission Bells
Six bells hang within the two church towers.
Mission Art and Artifacts
The mission church is filled with original and noteworthy paintings and statues.
The two largest religious paintings in all of the missions are found in Santa Bárbara.
Significant Events
Neophytes revolted at Santa Inés, Santa Bárbara, and La Purisima in 1824. The event underscored how relations with the largely Chumash neophytes deteriorated after the Mexican takeover of California in 1821.
Interesting Facts
- Under Fr. Narciso Durán the mission became the major record depository for the mission chain, a role that continues to this day.
- Francisco García Diego y Moreno, the first Catholic Bishop of California, resided at this mission from 1842 to 1846.
- Santa Bárbara is the only mission continuously operated by the Franciscans since its founding.
- An Apostolic College or missionary center for California functioned at the mission from 1856 to 1885, a Junior Franciscan Seminary from 1886 to 1901, and St. Anthony's Seminary from 1900 to 1987.
- Juana María, the Lone Woman of San Nicholas Island portrayed in Scott O'Dell's Island of the Blue Dolphins was buried in the mission cemetery in 1853.
For Additional Information
- Geiger, M.J. (1963). Pictorial History of the Physical Development of Mission Santa Barbara: from brush hut to institutional greatness, 1786-1963.
- Weber, F.J. (Ed.). (1979). Queen of the Missions: A Documentary History of Santa Barbara.
- Engelhardt, Z. (1923). Mission Santa Barbara, Queen of the Missions. (The definitive early history of the mission).
Historical Gallery
Santa Bárbara is the only mission continuously operated by the Franciscans since its founding in 1786. The elegant church, which has a Neoclassical façade, has been extensively illustrated over the years, and this Historical Image Gallery contains many illustrations done in the 19th century.
Contemporary Gallery
The Contemporary Image Gallery contains more recent photographs taken by several different photographers from around the Church gardens and the Church interior.
Architectural Gallery
