Who built mission Santa Cruz?

Answer 1

Chumash Indians slave labor built it under the supervision of Spanish friars and military men. Is was not called slavery but they were not paid and could not leave. It was destroyed in an earthquake in 1812 and again rebuilt by Chumash labor. The terrible treatment there led to the Chumash Revolt of 1824.

Answer 2

The Chumash people built all the mission buildings and farms. It was required labor that the Spanish demanded. They were not paid and could not leave. We would call this slavery today. Resentment of this and other Spanish actions led to the Chumash Revolt.

After the mission was secularized in 1821 most people left and it started to decay. Fr Buckler in 1904 started to rebuild it. He housed homelsss men there in exchange for them helping work on the place. Capuchin Irish Franciscan Friars came in 1924 and finished the work. Major rebuilding began in 1947. The restoration continues to this day.

Answer 3

Indians built santa cruz mission