Mission Santa Barbara
The Mission Santa Barbara was the tenth mission founded and is located in present day Santa Barbara, California. The architecture of the church itself is more refined and less primitive than some of the other missions, which I found rather generic, and the sculpture and artwork, while nice, is also more baroque and neoclassical with less influence from the local traditions. I enjoyed the architecture of the cemetery and quadrangle more in addition to the small museum which provides detailed information on the different craft work of the natives. The most interesting feature of the mission however is the original laundry or lavanderia, built in 1806 by the local Chumash Indians. This laundry and accompanying fountain was fed by extensive waterworks including aqueducts and two reservoirs, one of which is still used today as a part of the Santa Barbara water system.
View of bell tower from within cemetery, Mission Santa Barbara, California
Original entry into cemetery, Mission Santa Barbara, California
Morton Bay Fig Tree from Australia planted in 1890, Mission Santa Barbara, California
Painted wooden door in quadrangle, Mission Santa Barbara, California
Lavanderia, Mission Santa Barbara, California
End of lavanderia, constructed and carved by Chumash Indians in 1806, Mission Santa Barbara, California
Moorish fountain with lavaderia below, 1808, Mission Santa Barbara, California
Painting of Fray Junipero Serra, Mission Santa Barbara, California
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