Mission Santa Barbara Essay

Avi Mittal

Mission Santa Barbara

Have you ever wondered what makes Mission Santa Barbara

important and what are its interesting attributes? This mission is located in Santa Barbara, California. The mission’s nickname is “ The Queen of the Missions” since it was built on a hill overlooking the town of Santa Barbara and the Pacific Ocean. All of the missions in California were built to spread Catholicism to the Native American Indians. In addition to this, missions would help keep the land as Spanish territory and let the world know that Spain is the owner of this rich land along the coast. Mission Santa Barbara was a historical mission because of its founder, economy, and interesting facts.

The founder of Mission Santa Barbara established an important mission. Fr. Fermin Lasuen was born on July seventh 1736 in Spain. Mission Santa Barbara was established on December 4, 1786 by Fr.

Fermin Lasuen. He also founded eight other missions in California. This man worked hard to establish this important mission in California.
Mission Santa Barbara’s had a flourishing economy.

People at Mission Santa Barbara made adobes, tiles, shoes, and woolen garments. Other ways that they made a living were by carpentering, saddle making, spinning, weaving, and candlemaking. Agriculture and raising animals were a main source of income for the missions. There were at least three vineyards, and about 100 fruit trees. Native Americans grew wheat, barley, corn, beans, and peas. For irrigation, a dam, reservoir, and aqueduct were built to bring water to Mission Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara mission also had a filter house, a mill, a fountain, a washing area, and many water channels which transported water to the orchards and fields. This mission’s economy was very

successful.
Mission Santa Barbara had many interesting facts. The Chumash Indians built the original building for the mission which was made out of adobe. In 1812, an earthquake damaged Mission Santa Barbara’s church. Then, from 1815 to 1820, the new church was under construction. It was made with stone so that it would be more sturdy than before. The daily life at the mission was very organized. After breakfast, the Native Americans would go to church which was followed by work. Women would spin thread and make clothes in addition to cooking meals. Men worked in workshops or fields and constructed buildings. Priests taught the children at school. Following lunch, the Indians rested for two hours before they began work again. Native Americans danced, sang and played instruments after dinner. Later, in 1829 the mission and presidio were attacked by soldiers from Monterey. Secularization of Mission Santa Barbara occurred in 1834, but the buildings remained under the control of the Catholic Church.
Mission Santa Barbara was a historical mission because of its founder, economy, and interesting facts. One of the most important fact about Mission Santa Barbara is its founder. Fr. Fermin Lasuen is important to this mission because he helped raise a strong economy. This mission was the first mission Fr. Fermin Lasuen established in California. Santa Barbara’s mission is very important to mission history.

Bibliography

Amy Margaret
Mission Santa Barbara
New York
PowerKids Press
2000, 2003
Mary Null Boule
Mission Santa Barbara
Washington
Merryant Publishers

Old mission Santa Barbara
www.//santabarbaramission.org
12/11/14