Santa Barbara

Watercolor 14x20

$235.00

After the forced secularization of the Missions in 1833, the large land tracts formerly held by the Franciscan Order were distributed by the Mexican governor of California, Pico Pico to various families in order to reward service or build alliances. These land grants to local notable families mark the beginning of the "Rancho Period" in California and Santa Barbara history. The population remained sparse, with enormous cattle operations run by wealthy families. Santa Barbara fell bloodlessly to a battalion of American soldiers under John C. Frémont on December 27, 1846 during the Mexican-American War, and after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 it became part of the expanding United States.