In the northwest part of town just four blocks from State Street, the Santa Barbara Mission offers visitors a glimpse at the city's early origins. Founded in 1786, this Californian mission was Spain's 10th attempt to colonize the region and convert the native inhabitants to Roman Catholicism. Still a functioning house of worship, the Santa Barbara Mission boasts a museum filled with colonial artifacts and early photographs of the area. Also known as the Queen of Missions, the mission grounds also feature La Huerta, a garden that showcases Spain's agricultural influence on the California landscape, housing plants dating back to when the mission was established. Travelers say the mission is a must-see for history buffs. "I was surprised how much I liked this spot. This mission is set on a hill so it has a a beautiful view sloping down Santa Barbara toward the coast. The building and gardens are lovely, and the folks who work there are very friendly," according to one TripAdvisor user. The mission is open to visitors from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and admission costs $7 for adults, $5 for students, seniors and military, and $2 for kids ages 5 to 15. Or you could pay $9 for adult admission and a docent-led tour: those are offered on Thursdays and Fridays at 11 a.m., and on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. For more information, visit the official website.

California's ‘Queen of the Missions’ reigns above the city on a hilltop perch over a mile north of downtown. Its imposing Ionic facade, an architectural homage to an ancient Roman chapel, is topped by an unusual twin bell tower. Inside the mission’s 1820 stone church, notice the striking Chumash artwork. In the cemetery the elaborate mausoleums of early California settlers stand out, while the graves of thousands of Chumash lie largely forgotten. The self-guided tour starts in the pretty garden before heading to the cemetery. Next up is the church itself, followed by a series of rooms turned into a museum and exhibiting Chumash baskets, a missionary’s bedroom and time-capsule black-and-white photos showing the last Chumash residents of the Mission and the damage done to the buildings after the 1925 earthquake. Docent-guided tours are usually given at 11am on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10:30am on Saturday, and 12:30pm on Sunday; no reservations are taken. The mission was established on December 4, 1786, as the 10th California mission. Of California’s original 21 Spanish-colonial missions, it’s the only one that escaped secularization under Mexican rule. Continuously occupied by Catholic priests since its founding, the mission is still an active parish church. From downtown, take MTD bus 6 or 11, then walk five blocks uphill.

Renowned as the ‘crown jewel’ of the California Missions, this site has been painstakingly preserved. Mission Santa Barbara, or Santa Barbara Mission, is a Spanish mission founded by the Franciscan order in the vicinity of present-day Santa Barbara, California. The grounds of the current mission are located on the crest between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains. The mission was consecrated by founding father Padre FerminLasuen on December 4, 1786, the feast day of Saint Barbara, as the tenth mission for the religious conversion of the local Chumash—Barbareno tribe of Native American people residing in the area. The sole mission to have remained under the leadership of the Franciscan Friars right since its establishment, Mission Santa Barbara is, today, a parish church of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Legend has it that Saint Barbara was a girl who was beheaded by her father for following the Christian Faith. The early missionaries built three different chapels during the first few years but it was only in reparation of the damage caused by the destructive Santa Barbara Earthquake in 1812 that the current construction was established, dedicated in 1820. The interiors of the church have remained more or less the same ever since. The colonial art collection housed here is mostly from the baroque or neoclassical eras, a culturally rich and varied assortment of artefacts. Most of the pieces were imported from Mexico and South America, some notable exceptions including the three stone statues in the museum depicting Saint Barbara, along with the virtues of faith and charitycarved by a mission Indian in 3D images. Interestingly, these remain the only existing large sculptures done by indigenous California Indians. Mission Santa Barbara is rightfully called the ‘Crown Jewel’ of California for its history and architecture. Though a church, the Mission Santa Barbara ticket price has to be paid to enter the premises. Tickets for Mission Santa Barbara can be bought on spot or are even available online. When you are about to buy tickets for Mission Santa Barbara club them together with Mission Santa Barbara tickets for tours so you get the most of your money.

Among California's 21 Spanish missions, the late-18th-century national landmark Mission Santa Barbara is considered the "queen of the missions." Those interested in early California history will also want to stop by the whitewashed, red tile–roofed El Presidio de Santa Bárbara, a late-18th-century Spanish military outpost that was built by local Chumash Indian laborers. The park's nearby adobe homes have exhibits of historic objects found in the area. The legacy of this period lives on at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, a masterpiece of Spanish colonial revival architecture built in 1929 and just five minutes on foot from the Presidio. By John Oseid, AFAR Local Expert

Founded in 1786 by Franciscan priests of the Roman Catholic Church, Mission Santa Barbara remains one of the most ornate and opulent Catholic churches in California. The Mission's campus now includes a museum, gift shop and public mausoleum. Visitors should not wear shorts or tank tops while inside the church.

A Spanish mission founded in 1786, Old Mission Santa Barbara provides an insight into the colonization of southern California. Franciscan friars created the mission so they could convert the indigenous Chumash tribe to Catholicism. Embark on self-guided tour through the sacred garden, historical cemetery, church, and museum, or take one of the docent-led tours. Don't miss the fountain, aqueduct, and lavandaria in the Mission's front yard, all original fixtures built by the Chumash. The museum is home to a Chumash prayer board, the first written Chumash ever attempted. Our Santa Barbara day trip planner makes visiting Old Mission Santa Barbara and other Santa Barbara attractions simple, and helps you make a travel plan personal to you.