What is Mission Santa Barbara Used for Today?
Mission Santa Barbara is one of the few missions that was never totally abandoned. It is the only mission to be continuously under the care of Franciscans since it was founded. Today, Santa Barbara serves as a Parish Church, a Franciscan monastery, a seminary for theological students for the Franciscan priesthood. It also includes a museum and a gift shop.
The Museum
Mission Santa Barbara includes a museum. It shows supplies that the Indians used, beds for the priests, and many other things in display. When you are finished looking at the whole museum, you will feel the you visited the mission period yourself.
The Church
Mission Santa Barbara has a church. The church is still used as it is. The Church decoration has not changed since 1820, but it has been repaired many times. The walls are still filled with decorations from the 18th and 19th century.