The Chapel
the presidio
Surrounded by the bustle of the modern-day city of Santa Barbara, El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park preserves the site of the last of four military outposts built by the Spanish along the coast of Alta California. Two buildings of the original presidio have been restored, others have been reconstructed and archaeological excavations and additional reconstructions are continuing.
The Santa Barbara Presidio was founded on April 21, 1782, while the American Revolutionary War raged across the continent. Spain had earlier built three other presidios at San Diego, San Francisco and Monterey.
THE PRESIDIO CHAPEL
The Presidio Chapel is furnished as it would have been in the late 18th century. The whitewashed walls are punctuated by paintings and candle sconces, and the altar is dressed with a spectacular reredos (altar piece), altar frontal, and candlesticks. Period santos fill the niches. The interior walls and altar rail are painted to represent marble or tapestry. The chapel was the first in Santa Barbara for the local towns people, as the Mission Santa Barbara was used primarily by the Christianized native population.
