The Mexican Period & Daniel Hill

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Santa Barbara has had three flags of rule in its history, Spanish, Mexican and the United States.  Beginning with the founding of the Presidio in 1782, the Spanish period in Santa Barbara lasted until 1821 when Mexico won its independence from Spain.  This Mexican period, often called the Rancho period as it is a time when the Mexican government issued many land grants and sold or rented Mission lands which under the Spanish colonial framework were meant to be returned to Native Californians. The Mexican period officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, marking the end of the war between the United States and Mexico in which the latter lost almost half its territory. California became a state in 1850.

Within the wrought iron fencing lies Daniel Hill and family.  Daniel Hill was a very successful rancher during the Mexican period. His daughter was married to Nicholas Den, a doctor and also a successful rancher.  They would partner on many projects, and after the Mexican government secularized the Missions in 1833, together they acquired ownership of the Santa Barbara Mission and its 100,000 acres. They rented the Mission immediately back to the Franciscan Friars keeping the land for ranching. This allowed the Friars to continue to celebrate Mass in the Mission church and ensured their continued presence at Mission Santa Barbara. This is the only Mission of the 21 Alta California Missions to be continuously cared for by Franciscans since its founding. Today, friars and other Franciscan-hearted women and men continue serving the physical and spiritual needs of the Santa Barbara community.