Mission Historical Park

The bronze credits Indian labor; the builders were Barbareño Chumash. After the droughts of the 1790s they cut an aqueduct off Mission Creek, a charcoal-and-sandstone filter for drinking water, an upper reservoir that turned a grist mill, and a lower reservoir that caught the mill's spent water for the orchards. Nothing was wasted grinding the grain. The lower basin, finished in 1806, held city water until 1993. The ruins stand in the park; the dam is a mile and a half up the canyon.

What the plaque says

The City of Santa Barbara Mission Historical Park Santa Barbara Mission was founded December 4, 1786. Portions of five units of its extensive water works, built by Indian labor, are preserved in this park - a filter house, 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, also. The fountain and lavadero are near by in front of the old mission. A dam, built in 1807, is located in the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden one and one-half miles up Mission Canyon. Registered Historical Landmark No. 309 Plaque placed by California State Park Commission. April 21, 1957.

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• Santa Barbara County Courthouse — 1.2 mi
• Hill-Carrillo Adobe — 1.4 mi
• Site of Royal Spanish Presidio of Santa Barbara — 1.4 mi
• Old Lobero Theatre — 1.5 mi