California missions spotlight: You’ll recognize the handsome facade of Old Mission Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara

10th mission

1786

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This mission, often called Old Mission Santa Barbara, is a hive of activity, with lecture series, Franciscans on the scene, an active museum, extensive archives and gardens. (Its overnight retreat facilities will close in December.) The church — whose handsome facade often ends up on the cover of books about the missions — was rebuilt between 1815 and 1820 after an 1812 earthquake. Its 10-room museum has an altar built in 1789 by the Chumash, including an abalone-inlaid tabernacle (cabinet). Juana María, the Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island who inspired Scott O’Dell’s classic story “Island of the Blue Dolphins,” is buried behind one of the church towers; the site is marked by a plaque. In front of the church, look for a carved sandstone lion’s head on a trough by the fountain. It has no religious significance, but Santa Barbara mission museum director Kristina Foss said it might be the oldest piece of public art in California. (One more thing: In the Serra Shop, where you can purchase souvenirs and books, be especially polite to Joan and Jo Ann Cota. They’re sisters-in-law, and they have run the shop for 59 years.)

Nearby: The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (www.sbnature.org) is about half a mile north of the mission. About 1.7 miles north is the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (www.sbbg.org), a 78-acre wonderland of West Coast native plants. It includes the dam and aqueduct, built in 1807 to supply water to the mission.

Info: 2201 Laguna St., Santa Barbara; (805) 682-4713, www.santabarbaramission.org. Driving distance from Los Angeles City Hall: 104 miles northwest.

From the archives:

In 1925, The Times wrote about Mission Santa Barbara’s history of storm and earthquake damage.

In 1991, The Times wrote about the many researchers using the Santa Barbara mission’s archive.

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