Santa Barbara Mission

Tour the stunning Santa Barbara Mission, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. 

The Santa Barbara Mission was established in 1786. It was the tenth of 21 missions founded by the Spanish Franciscans in Alta California between 1769 to 1833, known as the Queen of the California Missions due to its stunning, Greco-Roman architecture.

The goal of the California Missions was was to convert Native Americans to Christianity and colonize Alta California.

10 best things to do at Santa Barbara Mission

1. Stand beneath the gorgeous church facade.

I started in the front lawned area of the Santa Barbara Mission, in awe of the stunning church facade with two bell towers. The scene was perfect, with the majestic Santa Ynez Mountains in the background. I looked closer at the Greco-Roman church facade, surrounded by walls six feet thick. The inspiration for this church came from a handbook by ancient Roman architect, Vitruvius Pollio.

As I admired the church, I realized I was looking at the fourth version of it. The church was built four times, expanding its footprint each time. I tried to imagine the first version from 1786, which was just a simple log building with a grass roof. The second version was made in 1788, using adobe brick and roof tiles. I then learned that the third and fourth versions had to be built after the 1812 and 1925 earthquakes. I wonder how well this building would fare in a big earthquake today.

Santa Barbara Mission has the distinction of being the only California Mission to have double bell towers. I counted a total of 6 bells in each tower, and apparently each bell is dedicated to a saint. Back in the day, the bells would be rung to call everyone to work.

It's easy to miss the details on the facade of the Santa Barbara Mission's church, so don't forget to look up at the triangular pediment to see the statutes of Faith, Hope and Charity. The  statue of Santa Barbara is directly below.  Santa Barbara was apparently beheaded by her pagan father, after she converted to Christianity.

2. Stop by the Father Serra Statue, and moorish fountain.

I noticed Father Junipero Serra's statue, just near the museum entrance. This Spanish-Catholic priest is credited with establishing 9 out of the 21 missions in California, including the Santa Barbara Mission. A moorish fountain also caught my attention, that flowed into a large trough (Lavenderia), where clothes were washed by Chumash women. I had previously visited the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden which was the start of a sophisticated aqueduct system at Mission Creek, that ended at the trough.

3. Browse the nine-room Museum with historic artifacts.

Enter the Museum and explore the nine exhibit rooms just past the Gift Shop.  These exhibit rooms used to be living quarters.

There are exhibits on the Chumash tribe’s culture and art, a reconstructed bedroom and kitchen, chapel room with artifacts, and an overview of mission trades.  Three of the original statues from the churches facade are on display, damaged by the 1925 earthquake.

4. See the beautiful Mission church interior.

Enter the church at the Santa Barbara Mission, and peer up at the ornate altar with the crypt beneath it.  

Admire the stunning Mexican Art from the 18th Century, featuring two of the biggest paintings out of the entire mission chain.

5. Stroll around the Sacred Garden.

Wander outside into the lush garden.  

There’s a cross and bones above the rear door of the church, a Spanish symbol to indicate a cemetery is nearby.  

This is the garden where Indians learned trades, like leatherwork, pottery and weaving, to generate income for the Santa Barbara Mission.

See plants and trees that grew during the Mission era (1769 - 1836).  Book a tour of the La Huerta Gardens to see olives, bananas, guava, prickly pear and citrus trees.

This is a statue of St Francis of Assisi.

6. Examine the tombstones and crypts at the Historic Cemetery 

The cemetery was established in 1789, after the Mission church was built.

The cemetery is a resting place for Franciscan friars and notable early Spanish families, buried in the mausoleums here.  

This is a sandstone and mortar wall, with a tilted wooden gate that is no longer functional.

This is the Covarrubias family mausoleum.  Covarrubius was a french national, who settled in California in 1834, and later became a Santa Barbara County judge.

The Spanish inscription above this mausoleum reads "I want to rest with the ones I love so much."

Over 4,000 Chumash Indians are also buried here, in unmarked graves.

7.  Step inside the Historic Mausoleum.

The Old Mission's Historic Mausoleum was built in 1878, and contains the remains of friars, nuns and lay people. A beautiful, marble columbarium has since been added, where anyone can have their ashes interred.

8. Browse the gift shop.

Find an incredible selection of religious themed gifts at the gift shop.

9. Book a docent guided tour

Let an expert show you around with a docent guided tour of the Mission Church, Historic Cemetery, nine room museum, lush gardens, and Mission Church. 

10. Visit the incredible Santa Barbara Mission library

See 16,000 rare and precious books, including the 1488 edition of the Imitation of Christ. Find incredible artifacts and documents to understand the history of Franciscan Missions in the Western U.S.

Know before you go

• Address: 2201 Laguna St, Santa Barbara, CA 93105.
• Parking: free.
• Restrooms:  yes.
• Hours & admission: check here. 
• Tours: check here.  Tour the Mission church, sacred garden, nine exhibit rooms, a cemetery and mausoleum, and gift shop.