A Partial History of Mission Santa Barbara

Mission Santa Barbara.

Father Lausuen founded and built Mission Santa Barbara.
The mission was built on December 4th,1786.
The mission was named after Saint Barbara.
This mission is located at what is now known as:
2201 Laguna Street, Santa Barbara.

Mission Santa Barbara is 305 miles from Dublin or four hours and fifty minutes. Mission Santa Barbara was the tenth of the Spanish missions

History:

Mission Santa Barbara’s mission name “The Queen Of The Missions” came from the legend of Saint Barbara, a young girl who bravely stood up to her faith. Another reason it is called the “Queen Of Missions” is because it is thought to be one of the most beautiful and well-preserved historic Spanish missions. The founding was originally set to happen four years earlier by Father Junipero Serra but was delayed by disagreements between the state and the church. By the time it was built Father Serra was dead, so the founder wasn’t Serra but instead Lausuen.

Mission Santa Barbara’s location was centered between the missions of the north and the south, setting the stage for Mission Santa Barbara to play a key role in the ultimate development of California.
Mission Santa Barbara later became the headquarters for all the missions. Mission Santa Barbara was one of the only missions continuously operated after its founding, which was on December 4th, 1786. The first mission founded by Father Junipero Fermin Lasuen was Mission Santa Barbara. The mission takes up 871,231 square feet of land.

With beautiful gardens, art, and architecture created by Spanish Franciscans Mission Santa Barbara perches over the city of Santa Barbara. Out in front is a lawn that’s a great picnic spot.
Something unique about Mission Santa Barbara is the two twin towers outside. Originally there was only a single tower but the second one was added in 1831. Six bells hang from both of the twin towers, each bearing an inscription of the cross. The towers often serve as a background for community events.

A unique thing about Mission Santa Barbara is that it’s the only mission with two founding dates, the reason was Father Serra’s death.
Three adobe churches were constructed before the construction of the present church in 1820. Two major earthquakes happened the first in 1812 leading to the construction of the present church. The second earthquake struck in 1925 again needing mass reconstruction. Though throughout this Mission Santa Barbara had endured.

Mission Life:

Through the 1800s Mission Santa Barbara revolved around agricultural growth and religion. A day at Mission Santa Barbara starts at sunrise with the bell’s first chime for everyone to go to church, after church a second chime would indicate that it’s time for breakfast. Beginning in 1769 the Indian's land was made into mission land and was followed by 60 years of forced labor and beatings. The Indians were put to work tending farms, and facilities, and were in some cases prohibited from leaving the mission. Many of the Indians at Mission Santa Barbara died of European diseases to which they had no immunity.

A few jobs that were given to the Indians at Mission Santa Barbara were things like farmers, hunters, and priests. Thousands of cattle, sheep, goats, mules, and more were raised at Mission Santa Barbara. A couple of things Mission Santa Barbara produced were corn, wheat, beans, and peas.
At the mission the Indians were treated like slaves so they revolted in 1824, the Indians burned down places like the soldier’s quarters, so the Spanish struck back by burning down the Indian huts. The Indians disarmed the soldiers during the attack, but after the rebels retreated to the interior and set up their community.

Conclusion:

That is all I have to tell about Mission Santa Barbara.
Currently, the mission serves as a parish church. The mission currently also serves as a museum and displays its historical artifacts.