The Queen of the Missions

Santa Barbara, California

We enjoyed Santa Barbara, California so much, we ended up staying 17 days. Peggy joined me on "Little Lara" October 25, 2019. Originally, we were waiting on fair weather, but we fell in love with the town and its people so we extended our stay, and extended our stay, then extended it yet again.  Santa Barbara is a coastal city situated on a south-facing section of the California coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States. The city lies between the steeply rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.  Downtown, Mediterranean-style white stucco buildings with red-tile roofs reflect the city’s Spanish colonial heritage. In addition to the architecture, everywhere you see tropical trees, plants and flowers like: palm trees, oak trees, tulip trees, sagebrush, manzanita, lilac, trumpet vines, etc.

Bird of Paradise
With Palm Trees in the Background

The first permanent European residents in Santa Barbara were Spanish missionaries and soldiers under Felipe de Neve, who came here in 1782. They were sent both to fortify the region against England and Russian expansion and to convert the natives to Christianity. Many of the Spaniards brought their families with them, and these formed the nucleus of the small town.  From San Diego to Sonoma, 21 missions were create across California over a 54 year period. The first, San Diego, was founded in 1769; the last, called San Francisco Solano, was founded in 1823.

Mission Santa Barbara
Circa 1900

Mission Santa Barbara
 Today

Mission Santa Barbara, known as "the Queen of the Missions," was founded by the Franciscan friars on the Feast of Saint Barbara, December 4, 1786. It was the tenth California Mission to be founded by the Spanish Franciscans.  It was dedicated by Padre Fermín Lasuén, who succeeded Padre Junipero Serra as the second president and founder of the California Franciscan Mission chain. It remains an active church to this day and  houses Franciscan friars, an archive, and a museum.

Books in Santa Barbara's Archive Collection
Some date back to the 1500's

Santa Barbara Mission Cathedral

Santa Barbara Mission Altar

Resurrected Christ and Mary
Santa Barbara Mission Cathedral

Painting of the Virgin Mary
surrounded by the  Father, Son, Holy Ghost and Angels

San Nicolas Island is the most remote of California's Channel Islands, located approximately 82 miles from the Santa Barbara.  In 1835 the sailing ship "Peores Nada", captained by Charles Hubbard,

Juana Marie
The Loan Woman of San Nicolas Island

 landed on the island and began to load on board all of the Indians living there to bring them to the mainland. A child was found missing and his mother pleaded to be left on the island to find him. She was described as a light complexioned woman between 20-30 years of age. She disappeared into the mist and wasn't seen again for eighteen years. Several efforts were made in subsequent years to find the "Lone Indian Woman of San Nicolas" but none succeeded until Captain Nidever landed on the island in 1853.  Shortly after their arrival they found an "old woman" stripping blubber from a piece of seal skin. According to Nidiver's account, instead of running way "she smiled and bowed, chattering away to them in an unintelligible language." She was "of medium height ... about 50 years old but ... still strong and active. Her face was pleasing as she was continually smiling ... Her clothing consisted of but a single garment of skins." Nidever had been requested by the Fathers at the Mission Santa Barbara to "bring the lost woman off [the island] in case we found her".  Through sign language it was determined that she was indeed the woman left in 1835 and, sadly, that she never did find her child. Juana Maria (the name given her by the padres) became ill of dysentery, and died after just seven weeks on the mainland. She was buried in the cemetery at Mission Santa Barbara.

Juana Marie's Death Certificate
Santa Barbara Mission Archive

Juana Maria's Memorial Plaque
Santa Barbara Mission Cemetery

While in Santa Barbara we took the opportunity to tour the Mission, visit Juana Maria's grave and attend Church.  We hope you enjoy these pictures of Santa Barbara as much as we enjoyed being here.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Santa Barbara Chapel

Mission San Carlos

Mission San Diego