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| Landmark #309 | Santa Barbara County | Visited: Sept. 4, 2011 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | The refurbished 10th mission (of 21) founded by Father Fermín Francisco de Lasuén! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: Santa Barbara Mission was founded December 4, 1786. Portions of five units of its extensive waterworks, built by Indian labor and preserved in this part, are a filter house, Spanish gristmill, sections of aqueducts, and two reservoirs, the larger of which, built in 1806, is used today as part of the city water system. The fountain and lavadero are nearby, in front of the mission, and a dam built in 1807 is located in the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, one and one-half miles up Mission Canyon. Only ruins remain of the mission’s pottery kiln, guard house, and tanning vats.
OTHER TIDBITS: The “Queen of the Missions,” Mission Santa Barbara is named after Barbara of Nicomedia, who was said to have been martyred in 306 AD but wasn’t really talked about until the 600s. No one is really sure whether she was a real person, but she’s still the patron saint of miners, artillerymen and firemen! According to legend, her father locked her in a tower to keep her a virgin, and she converted to Christianity in the process. Outraged by her heresy, her father had her beheaded, then was promptly struck dead by lightning! This landmark is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: 2201 Laguna St Santa Barbara, CA 93105 Plaque located in Mission Historical Park ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~98mi (158km) — 1.7hrs |
| When should I go? | Hours vary by season, but you’re almost guaranteed to get in between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM, seven days a week! Docent-led tours take place Thursdays and Fridays at 11:00 AM and Saturdays at 10:30 AM! |
The plaque is in the middle of the park north of Alameda Padre Serra, surrounded by interesting aqueduct ruins, at 34° 26.394′ N, 119° 42.732′ W.