Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Established in 1786 as the tenth of California's 21 Spanish missions, Mission Santa Barbara became a major center for the Chumash people, the indigenous inhabitants of the region. At its peak population in the early 19th century, the mission housed approximately 1,000 Chumash neophytes (baptized converts).
The Chumash were integral to the mission's operation, providing labor for agriculture, livestock raising, construction, and crafts. While the mission provided religious instruction and a structured community, the mission system overall had devastating consequences for Native populations, including exposure to European diseases, cultural disruption, and the erosion of traditional lifeways. The Chumash population declined sharply during the mission period due to these factors.