Old Mission Santa Barbara

Established in 1786, the Old Mission Santa Barbara was the tenth of twenty-one missions established by the Spanish Franciscans. Take a self-guided tour to learn how the mission was constructed and explore the life of the Native Americans who helped build it. One room showcases items associated with the girl who Scott O'Dell writes about in Island of the Blue Dolphin; she is buried in the Mission cemetery. You’ll see a typical Mission kitchen, the Padre’s room, oil paintings, Mission-era ladrillo tiles and other artifacts. Docent-led tours are available on Thursday, Friday and Saturdays mornings. You can also organize a special tour focused on art and architecture or on La Huerta, the Mission garden that features authentic and ancient plants that have survived since the Mission Era.