Mission Trail Today - The California Missions
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This site is owned, designed, and operated by Kenneth A. Larson who has over a quarter century of experience in design and construction of scenery for the Entertainment Industry and Theme Parks using Computer Aided and Traditional approaches to Design. Ken also has experience in other areas of Design.
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Mission Trail Today
All photographs taken by Kenneth A. Larson. All rights reserved. © 2003 - 2013.
Select photographs of my many visits to the California Missions build by Spain and Mexico between 1769 and 1823.
#10, Santa Barbara Virgin y Martir
Founded December 4, 1786
by Father Fermin Lasuen
in Santa Barbara
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Updated
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I have visited this mission a number of times. While still dating my wife, we viisted on July 30, 2001. Prior to that, I had visited two or three times with my parents.
On September 14, 2003, my wife and I visited Santa Barbara Mission in part because the lighting was bad the previous time. What I hadn't expected was there would be Sunday Mass parking in front of the church. I did my best to photograph around the cars. We went on to Santa Ines Mission and returned in |
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Photo-Art
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the afternoon. We also visited the Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens a few miles north to photograph the dam that once provided water to the mission. This is when my professional camera died and I took the rest of the photos with my instamatic. I began exploring across the street from the mission and discovered the Mission Park which included the ruins of about 7 constructions and part of the aqueduct.
We visited again on May 15, 2004 and and June 26, 2004. In this May visit, we also visited the Presidio and other historic sites and hope to include this material soon.
History
Mission Santa Barbara was founded on the feast day of Saint Barbara, December 4, 1786. Mission Santa Barbara was the tenth missions established and the first by Padre Fermin Francisco de Lasuen, following the death of Padre Junipero Serra two years earlier. Mission Santa Barbara is often referred to as the Queen of the Missions.
Prior to the arrival of the Spanish, the Chumash settled the coastal region from Malibu to San Luis Obispo.
Three adobe churches were built in succession, each larger than the preceding. Following the destruction of the third church in 1812, a new stone church was dedicated in 1820. This stone church still stands and is in regular use. In June of 1925, an earthquake caused a partial collapse to both bell towers. It was quickly repaired but the mortar was faulty and the towers were rebuilt again in 1950. Santa Barbara is the first cathedral in California. Because only a cathedral was allowed to have two matching towers, it is the only mission with two matching bell towers. The current church is one of only three stone mission churches in California. Other stone churches are at Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo and Mission San Juan Capistrano.
The friary residence began as a one story building. A second story was later added and was finished in 1870. The fountain was built in 1808.
Like all the missions, Santa Barbara was an agricultural center. Products included wheat, barley, corn, peas, oranges, olives, and grapes. Animals raised included cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, mules, and horses. In 1809, the mission recorded 5,200 head of cattle and recorded 11,221 head of sheep in 1803. Water was provided by two dames north of the mission, built in 1807.
Mission Santa Barbara was secularized in 1834 along with the rest of the missions and jurisdiction over the Indians was transferred to civil authorities. Two years later, the Governor confiscated the mission lands and sold the mission in 1846. The missionaries were allowed to continue conducting services. In 1865, the mission was returned to the Catholic Church by President Abraham Lincoln.
The Franciscans used the mission for a high school and junior college from 1868 to 1877. A seminary opened in 1896 and the Franciscan Provence of Santa Barbara School of Theology resided at the Mission until the summer of 1968. The Mission has been in continuous use as a Catholic church since its founding and masses are celebrated regularly.
The Mission is now open to the public with masses celebrated regularly in the church. The mission includes a museum and just to the north in Mission Park, ruins of out buildings can be explored.
Address and Directions
2201 Laguna Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Exit Highway 101at Mission Street. Follow Mission Street to Laguna Street and turn left onto Laguna Street. Proceed to mission.
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden: (where the mission dam is located)
1212 Mission Canyon Road
Santa Barbara, CA
To get to Santa Barbara Botanic Garden to see the dam, exit the mission parking lot and turn left onto Los Olivos and follow it counter-clockwise around the front of the mission. Follow Los Olivos through it curves and a name change to Mission Canyon Road and follow to Foothill Road. Turn right and then after a few blocks, turn left back onto Mission Canyon Road. Follow to the Gardens. Be carefull and watch the signs, it gets confusing. We got lost returning once.
Photography Gallery
Church Exterior. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Church Interior. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Front of church. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Church Fiesta Month. Photo date: 8-7-04.
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Front of church. Photo date: 6-26-04.
Front of church. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Front of church. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Front of church. 6-26-04.
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Front of church. 6-26-04.
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Church Fiesta Month. Photo date: 8-7-04.
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Church Fiesta Month. Photo date: 8-7-04.
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Mission from garden. Photo date: 8-7-04.
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Mission from garden. Photo date: 9-11-04.
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Front and fountain. Photo date: 7-30-01.
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Front and fountain. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Bell tower9-14-03.
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Church. 9-14-03.
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Front of church. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Front of church. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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South bell tower. Photo date: 6-26-04
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South bell tower. Photo date: 6-26-04
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South bell tower. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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South bell tower. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Front door. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Front door. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Top of church and bell tower. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Top of church and bell tower. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Sculpture at top of church. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Sculpture at top of church. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Sculpture at top of church. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Sculpture at top of church. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Sculpture at top of church. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Sculpture at top of church. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Window. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Detail. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Details. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Details. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Roof tile. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Chalk art. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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North side of bell towers. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Church from north. Photo date: 8-7-04.
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Statue. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Statue. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Statue. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Statue. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Statue. Photo date: 6-26-04.
Bell. Photo date: 8-7-04.
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Bell. Photo date: 8-7-04.
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Lavanderia. Photo date: 9-14-03.
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Lavanderia. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Lavanderia. Photo date: 8-7-04.
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Lavanderia. Photo date: 8-7-04.
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Fountain. Photo date: 9-14-03.
Interior. Photo date: 8-7-04.
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Dining Room. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Adoration Chapel. Photo date: 5-15-04.
Chapel interior. Photo date: 7-30-01.
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Chapel interior. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Chapel interior. This statue is of Christ greeting Mary of Magdola after the resurrection. Photo date: 9-14-03.
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Saint Francis of Assisi, 1182-1226 and Saint Clara of Assisi, 1194-1253. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Church interior, back wall and main entrance. Photo date: 5-15-04.
Garden. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Garden. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Garden. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Garden. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Garden. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Garden. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Caretta. Photo date: 7-30-01.
Mission Park
Across the street from Mission Santa Barbara to the north, extends a low stone wall, easily visible. Beyond this wall lies Mission Park. This is not a park of green grass and picnic tables, it is native grasses, oak trees, and meandering paths connecting the dozen or so ruins of mission support buildings and the aqueduct. I had been to the mission three or four times before discovering this wonder. All the Mission Park photos except the wall and Tannery were taken after my professional camera died and I used a $60.00 point and shoot camera. 9-14-03.
Photo Gallery
I had been to Santa Barbara Mission many time and could see this wall to the north. What I never realized was that the Mission Park spread just beyond this wall, which I later learned is actusllypart of the aqueduct. 9-14-03.
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Aqueduct. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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A Plaque says:
The City of Santa Babara
Mission Historical Park
Santa Barbara Mission was fonded December 4, 1786.
Portions of five units of its extensive water works
built by Indian labor, are preserved in this park -
A Filter House, Spanish Grist Mill, sections of aqueducts
and two reservoirs. The larger reservoir,
built in 1806, is used today as aprt of the city water
system. Ruins of the Pottery Kiln and Tanning vats
are here. Also, the fountain and Lavadero are near
by in front of the old mission. A dam, built in 1807.
Is located in the Santa Barbra Botanic Garden,
one and one-half miles up Mission Canyon.
Registered Historical Landmark No. 309
Plaque placed by California State Park Commission
April 21, 1957
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Tannery. 9-14-03.
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Tannery. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Tannery. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Tannery. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Jail House. 9-14-03.
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Jail House. 9-14-03.
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Jail. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Jail. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Jail with Pottery Shed beyond. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Jail. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Jail. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Jail. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Pottery shed. 9-14-03.
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Pottery Shed. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Pottery Shed. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Pottery Shed. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Pottery Shed, back side. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Pottery Shed, back side. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Lower Reservoir. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Plaque. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Grist Mill. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Grits Mill. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Upper Reservoir. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Upper Reservoir. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Upper Reservoir with Mission beyond. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Upper Reservoir with Mission beyond. Photo date: 6-26-04.
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Filter. 9-14-03.
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Filter. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Filter. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Filter. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Filter. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Filter. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Filter and the aqueduct. 9-14-03.
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Aqueduct. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Aqueduct. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Mission Park Map.
Mission Dam
About two miles north of Mission Santa Barbara (directions above), within the grounds of the Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens, are the remains of the Mission Dam, filter, and aqueduct.
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden: (where the mission dam is located)
1212 Mission Canyon Road
Santa Barbara, CA
To get to Santa Barbara Botanic Garden to see the dam, exit the mission parking lot and turn left onto Los Olivos and follow it counter-clockwise around the front of the mission. Follow Los Olivos through it curves and a name change to Mission Canyon Road and follow to Foothill Road. Turn right and then after a few blocks, turn left back onto Mission Canyon Road. Follow to the Gardens. Be carefull and watch the signs, it gets confusing. We got lost returning once.
Photography Gallery
Front of Dam. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Front of Dam. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Dam. Photo date: 9-14-03.
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Back side of Dam. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Front of dam. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Front of dam and sluice. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Sluice, looking down from the dam. Photo date: 5-15-04.
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Sluice and dam beyond. Photo date: 5-15-04
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Sluce. 9-14-03.
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Settling Box. 5-15-04.
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Map of Aqueduct System.
This web site was created because of my love and respect for the California Missions. This web site is for your benefit and I make no profit on it. A non-tax deductable donation to help cover the cost of operating this web site may be made to Kesign Design Consulting through PayPal ...
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This page last updated 7-30-13
This site maintained by Kenneth A. Larson.
Copyright © 2003 - 2013, Kenneth A. Larson. All Rights Reserved.
Website content including photographic and graphic images may not be redistributed for use on another website.
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This site is a light hearted alternative to my commercial design portfolio site. This site's only purpose is for your enjoyment. If you are in the need of a designer, please check my commercial site www.kesigndesign.com.
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