Mission Historical Park

Santa Barbara Mission was founded on December 4, 1786. Portions of five units of its extensive water works, built by Indian labor, are preserved here: a filter house, a Spanish grist mill, sections of aqueducts, and two reservoirs. The larger reservoir, built in 1806, is used today as part of the city water system. Ruins of the pottery kiln and tanning vats are here. The fountain and Lavadero are nearby in front of the old Mission. A dam, built in 1807, is located in the Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens, one and one-half miles up Mission Canyon.

Santa Barbara, California · United States