From Military Outpost to World-Famous Resort

For thousands of years, protected by the rugged mountains and ocean, the Chumash Indians enjoyed a comfortable, easy lifestyle afforded by an abundance of wildlife and natural resources. European "civilization" first arrived in 1542, when Portuguese explorer Juan Cabrillo entered the Channel and claimed land for Spain. Their next encounter with the Spanish would not be for another century. On the eve of December 4, 1602, frigates under the command of Sabastian Vizcaino entered the Santa Barbara Channel.

In 1782, the Spaniards came to stay. With plans to establish a military presidio and mission, a group led by Father Junipero Serra, Captain Jose Ortega, and Governor Felipe de Neve founded the city of Santa Barbara. The Spaniards governed the area until 1822, when California became a Mexican territory. Just 24 years later, in 1846, Colonel John Fremont and his soldiers took Santa Barbara for the United States. Thus Chumash, Spanish, Mexican and North American influences merged together, forming a unique blend of language and culture.

Santa Barbara remained a sleepy pueblo until the late 1800s, when wealthy easterners, after reading rave newspaper reviews of the wonderful climate, hot and cold springs, and relaxing atmosphere, came for vacation. Word of Santa Barbara as a premiere health resort traveled far and wide, attracting not only visitors, but permanent residents. Great hotels and cultural opportunities blossomed, drawing celebrity visitors from around the globe, including presidents, opera stars, kings and queens. For a short time, Santa Barbara was even the film capitol of the world! In 1910, before the motion picture industry centralized in Hollywood, the American Film Company opened the Flying A Studio. The studio was the largest of its kind in the world for several years. More than 1200 movies (mostly westerns) were made during the studio's ten year life span. Though Santa Barbara ceased to be center of the motion picture industry. It continued to be a favorite getaway destination for film stars and other celebrities. Today, many celebrities maintain Santa Barbara residences, finding this a perfect place to escape the glare of Hollywood, less than two hours away.

Old Spanish Days Fiesta - Our Imfamous Party!

In the year 1924, two circumstances motivated the first Fiesta. In the first place, there had for some time been a feeling among the business people of the city that Santa Barbara should have an annual summer event to entertain and attract visitors. The city had come to be a favorite place for winter tourists, but these visitors had not been drawn here in any considerable number during the summer months.

Secondly, in August of 1924, the Community Arts Association of Santa Barbara planned the opening of the new Lobero Theatre, which had been erected on the site of the old historic theatre founded by Josˇ (Giuseppe) Lobero and built by the assistance of Col. Wm. Hollister. A member of the Community Arts Association, J. Wm. McLennen, conceived the idea of having a celebration to mark the opening of the new theatre. He approached a merchants' association and a committee was formed of which Charles E. Pressley was elected chairman. The interest of Herbert Nunn, who was then the city manager, was enlisted. The group began to formulate plans for the celebration, to be comprised of a number of activities to include a parade, aquatic and sports events and, of course, a gala celebration at the theatre on its opening night.

As news of the plans became noised abroad, some members of the community, more particularly T. Wilson Dibblee, a descendant of the prominent De La Guerra family, and James B. Rickard, became apprehensive lest the celebration should not fully represent Santa Barbara's standards. A number of like-minded persons became interested, and it was their opinion that the large amount of material originally gathered at the time of the presentation of La Primavera should form the background for the proposed celebration, which has become known today as Old Spanish Days Fiesta.

The Santa Barbara Mission

Mission Santa Barbara was the tenth of the California missions to be founded by the Spanish Franciscans. It was established on the Feast of St. Barbara, Dec 4, 1786. Padre Junipero Serra, who founded the first nine missions, had died 2 years earlier. Serra had planned to build this mission, raising the cross at the presidio of Santa Barbara in 1782. It was Padre Fermin Francisco de Lasuen, his successor, who raised the cross here and placed Padre Antonio Paterna, a companion of Serra, in charge. Paterna put up the first buildings and made the first converts.

The original buildings were of adobe and unpretentious. As the years passed, there was progress and development. There were three adobe churches here, each larger than the other, before the present church. The third was destroyed by earthquake in 1812. Thereafter the present church was planned. It was finished and dedicated in 1820. The present friary residence was built gradually, first one story, then a second was added. It was not finished until 1870. The beautiful fountain in front of the Mission was built in 1808. The earthquake of June 29, 1925 damaged the Mission Church and friary considerably. Restoration work was completed in 1927 and the towers reinforced in 1953.

Prior to the Spanish arrival, the Chumash inhabited the area from Malibu to San Luis Obispo. They were hunters and gatherers oriented to the sea. They built plank boats (tomols) which were capable of traveling to the Channel Islands. Their religious practices and ceremonies included the creation of elaborate polychrome rock art located in remote caves and rock outcroppings. Chumash villages were autonomous, headed by the hereditary leader. Houses were dome shaped with tules covering a willow frame. Basketry was a major art form as were stone bowls and tools. Chumash manufactures were noted by early explorers as being high in quality. Their skilled handiwork greatly contributed to the Mission's success.

Chumash leaders such as Chief Yanonali became Christians, leading many villagers to join them. Native customs did not die out all together in arts or belief, however. In the 1880's Rafael Solares (pictured in museum room #1 in spiritual leader's garb) was the last Antap (Native spiritual leader) and also the sacristan of Mission Santa Ines and an active Christian leader. Many Chumash descendants still live in the Santa Barbara area today. A number of Indian community groups keep culture alive and provide social, cultural, medical, and preservation programs that benefit the Indian community.

The Franciscans introduced agriculture to the Indians. The principal products of the field were wheat, barley, corn, beans, and peas. Orange and olive trees were planted and vines were cultivated. Water was brought from the mountain creeks to irrigate the fields and for domestic use. To impound these waters the Indian Dam was built in 1807, about two miles upstream. The water was led to the Mission by an aqueduct, the water flowing by gravity. The ruins of these, together with a mill, tanning vats, a storage reservoir, and a filter may be seen near the Mission today.

Mission Santa Barbara had cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, mules and horses in great number. In 1809, there were 5,200 head of cattle, and in 1803, 11,221 head of sheep. At the Mission, the Indians made adobes, tiles, shoes, and woolen garments, learned the trades of carpenter and mason, and became herdsmen and farmers. They also leaned to sing and play European instrumental music. Church services were accompanied by an Indian choir and instrumental ensemble of violins, cellos, woodwinds, and brasses rather than an organ.

The original purpose of the Mission was the christianazation of the Chumash Indians. This was considered accomplished by the 1930's. With no new converts, the Mission's Indian population started to go down. Spain had lost California to Mexico in 1822, and in 1834 the Mission was secularized. Indians were placed under civil jurisdiction not church authority. Civil administration resulted in a deterioration of lifestyle and buildings. Fr. Duran was then appointed administrator in 1839, and in 1843 the Missions were returned to the Franciscans. Two years later the Governor confiscated the lands and in 1846 the Mission was sold. The missionaries were allowed to conduct services in the church (unlike many California Missions which were abandoned or turned into barns). In 1865 the Mission was returned to the Catholic Church by Abraham Lincoln (California having become part of the U.S. in 1848).

When the Mission period was over, the buildings were used for a number of purposes. From 1868 until 1877 the Franciscans conducted a high school and junior college for boys, both for boarders and local students. In 1896, a seminary was opened at the Mission for candidates studying for the priesthood. Until the summer of 1968 the School of Theology for the Franciscan Province of St. Barbara was located in the Mission buildings. The Friars work in various apostolates in the western states. They continue to serve the Indians of Arizona and New Mexico as well as the foreign missions. The Mission church today is used by the Parish of St. Barbara.

When Santa Barbara's Presidio was founded in 1782, in expectation of founding a Mission here, the Spanish soldiers were of varied ethnic backgrounds. Indian tribes of Mexico, Sephardic Jews, and Africans as well as Spaniards were all represented in the ancestry of California's early settlers. Some of those settlers soon intermarried with native Chumash people. There are numerous Santa Barbarans today who trace their ancestry to the Chumash and a Presidio soldier or early settler. When the Americans arrived in 1848, further intermarriage occurred resulting in the diversity of Santa Barbara's heritage reflected in the names and backgrounds of those buried in the Mission cemetery. Early Manila galleons and China clippers brought Asian cultural influence to California as well. Some visible examples of this cultural infusion are the Philippine crucifix and the Chinese silk vestments in the museum Chapel room and the variety of Chinese porcelain alongside the English China, Mexican Majolica and California Indian basketry seen in the kitchen display. The obvious Moorish (African) cultural influences are clearly visible in the architecture of the Mission itself, while the art works that decorate the Mission are primarily from Mexico's rich cultural traditions. Santa Barbara Mission today is a monument to the cultural diversity of California's heritage.