Santa Barbara's Royal Presidio
The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of Spain's Last Adobe Fortress
Description
Unique in California history—and beloved by visitors and residents alike—the city of Santa Barbara boasts three great historical properties: the Mission, the Courthouse, and the Presidio. Least known is the Presidio. This book fills this vacuum, beginning with the story of its adobe construction between 1784 and 1790. This itself was preceded by the construction of three other Spanish forts: Monterey (1770), San Diego (1773), and San Francisco (1776). All four Presidios helped secure the Spanish settlement of Alta or Upper California, as the mixed-racial soldiers and their families became the first Spanish settlers of the region. The Santa Barbara Presidio was the last Spanish fort founded and built not only in California, but in all of Spanish North America, an area that, in its day, covered much of the southern portion of the modern United States from Florida to California. This book celebrates the Santa Barbara Presidio’s place in not only American history but also that of Spain, and honors the community that came together to ensure its preservation and faithful reconstruction.
Reviews
“As a colleague of Jarrell Jackman in the prestigious Spanish Order of Isabel La Católica, I recognize the esteem in which he is held for his ability to write about Spain’s role in the founding of the Presidio of Santa Barbara. These important beginning chapters are followed by Dr. Jackman’s knowledge gained through active participation in the rebuilding of the Presidio. His experiences with the growth and development of the State Park make this accurate and lively written history a must read.”
“The public/private partnership that took place at El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park became a model operating agreement during my tenure as director of California State Parks, and Santa Barbara’s Royal Presidio provides Jackman’s invaluable thirty-five-year perspective of what it took to save ‘Spain’s last adobe fortress’—it is a powerful testimony to the efforts to preserve California’s diverse historical heritage.”
“Jarrell Jackman’s hands-on history of the Royal Presidio of Santa Barbara is just the pep talk park professionals need. Every park has growing pains, even when its mandate is secure. Literally brick by brick, we learn how to turn vision into reality. Take note and be inspired by this engaging and insightful book.”
