Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation

The Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation recognizes a shared Hispanic heritage between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara from both the Spanish and Mexican periods. The same military contingent from the San Gabriel Mission that founded Los Angeles in 1781 went on to found the Presidio of Santa Barbara the following year. Los Angeles and Santa Barbara share early soldiers, settlers, and descendants. Los Angeles and Santa Barbara have been linked by El Camino Real (now Route 101) for over 247 years. During the Spanish period, the military district of the Santa Barbara Presidio encompassed Los Angeles. The Research Center holds copies of materials dating back to the Spanish Colonial related to the founding of both the Pueblo of Los Angeles (1781) and Santa Barbara (1782).