Presidio of Santa Barbara
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The El Presidio Real de Santa Bárbara (or Royal Presidio of Santa Barbara) was a military installation in Santa Barbara, California, built by Spain in 1782, with the mission of defending the Second Military District in California. In addition to being a significant tourist attraction, it is an active archaeological site. It is the second oldest surviving building in California; only the chapel at Mission San Juan Capistrano (known as "Father Serra's Church") is older. In addition, it was the last military outpost to be built by Spain in the New World. [1]
A small portion of the original Presidio survives to the present day, and has been restored. While most of the original structure is gone, because the original layout was twisted several degrees from the street grid upon which the town was later built, some traces of it can be seen in aerial photography (for instance in walls, fences, and some buildings which follow property lines in conformance with the Presidio's geometry). The only parts of the large quadrangle to be restored are some of the guard quarters, as well as the Cañedo Adobe, which became the property of a former Presidio soldier after the facility was decommissioned.
The chapel in the Presidio, one of the restored buildings, was the primary place of worship for the residents of early Santa Barbara, since the mission, a mile and a half away, was mainly intended for use by the native Chumash Indians after their conversion to Christianity.
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[edit] History
The site of the Presidio was chosen by Felipe de Neve, the first governor of the Californias. Perceiving that the coast at Santa Barbara was vulnerable to attack, he located a spot near a harbor which was sheltered from severe storms. In addition, there was an ample supply of both building materials and water nearby. Construction began on April 21, 1782, and Padre Junípero Serra blessed the site.
The first commandante, José Francisco Ortega, planned the fortifications and irrigating works. He obtained livestock for the presidio from Ventura, established orchards, and began large-scale farming. Four years later, construction of the nearby Mission Santa Barbara began. The town of Santa Barbara developed around the Presidio, which offered protection for the residents.
The Presidio's fifth, and most influential comandante was the wealthy Spanish trader José de la Guerra y Noriega, who ran the Presidio from 1827 until his retirement in 1842.
The Presidio was built as a fortress, and therefore included a strong outer wall with an open parade ground on all sides affording clear visibility. While, during its sixty years of operation, it was never attacked by a strong military force, the assaults of nature were more severe: several devastating earthquakes in the early 19th century destroyed much of the structure. At the time of the Mexican-American War, very little remained in usable condition, and on December 27, 1846, when John C. Frémont crossed San Marcos Pass during rainy weather and came up on the Presidio and the town from behind, the Presidio surrendered without a fight. None was necessary; the garrison was away, in Los Angeles. Frémont had heard that the Mexican army was lying in ambush for him at Gaviota Pass, the only sensible route over the mountains at that time, and had crossed the difficult muddy track on San Marcos Pass to outflank them, but this move turned out not to have been necessary. Mexican General Andrés Pico later surrendered his force to Frémont, recognizing that the war was lost. [2]
In 1963, the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation (SBTHP) was founded, with the primary mission of restoring the Presidio. In 1966, the land on which the Presidio is located became a State Historic Park. [3] On December 27, 2006, the SBTHP signed an agreement with the California State Parks Department to manage the Presidio.[4] Work on the restoration continues.
[edit] References
- Tompkins, Walker A. (1975). Santa Barbara, Past and Present. Tecolote Books, Santa Barbara, CA.
- Tompkins, Walker A. (1976). It Happened in Old Santa Barbara. Sandollar Press, Santa Barbara, CA.
- El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park, at the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation web site. Retrieved on August 22, 2005.
- State Parks Department Enters Agreement With Historic Trust. Retrieved on December 27, 2006.
