Still
an active church, this mission dates back to 1786
when it was founded by Spanish Franciscans. Like most
buildings in this area at that time, it was built
from adobe bricks that have taken a beating from earthquakes
over the years. The building was destroyed in 1812,
and had to be rebuilt. Another big jolt took a toll
on the building in 1925, and again extensive repairs
were necessary. The church brought more than just
religion to the natives of the area. The parish created
an extensive water works, an aqueduct to bring water
from the mountains, creating a dam and reservoir,
and using that water to power mills for the town that
sprang up around it. The mission entered a state of
decay after California became part of Mexico. Eventually,
the mission was sold and its land confiscated by the
state. When California joined the United States, the
mission was given back to the Church. In spite of
all this turmoil, the Santa Barbara Mission is considered
one of the best preserved pieces of California's architectural
heritage.
