Santa Barbara Mission

By Zephyrin Engelhardt

"Santa Barbara Mission" is a comprehensive historical and descriptive account of one of California's most significant religious and architectural landmarks. Written by the noted Franciscan historian Zephyrin Engelhardt, this work provides an in-depth exploration of the mission since its founding in 1786. Known as the "Queen of the Missions," the Santa Barbara site is examined through its spiritual, social, and physical evolution.

The narrative details the administration of the Franciscan friars, the lives of the local Chumash people within the mission system, and the challenges faced during the Spanish, Mexican, and American eras. Engelhardt meticulously documents the construction of the iconic stone church and the mission's unique survival as the only California mission to remain under the continuous leadership of the Franciscan Order.

Drawing from extensive archival records, the work offers a valuable perspective on the evangelization efforts and the cultural landscape of early California. This historical record serves as an essential resource for those interested in the history of the Catholic Church in the United States, colonial architecture, and the complex heritage of the West Coast. "Santa Barbara Mission" remains a definitive study of the mission's enduring legacy and its central role in the history of the region.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 102596750X
• ISBN13: 9781025967509
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 500 Pages
• Weight: 1.53 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.1" x 9.2"