San Buenaventura Mission Aqueduct facts for kids
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San Buenaventura Mission Aqueduct
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Remains of San Buenaventura Mission Aqueduct
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 234 Canada Larga Rd., Ventura, California |
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| Built | 1794 |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000497 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | March 7, 1975 |
The San Buenaventura Mission Aqueduct was a very long water channel made of stone. It was built many years ago to carry water from the Ventura River to the Mission San Buenaventura in Ventura, California. This important aqueduct helped the mission and its farms get the water they needed to grow and thrive.
Contents
What Was the Aqueduct?
An aqueduct is like an ancient water pipeline. The San Buenaventura Mission Aqueduct was about seven miles long. It was carefully built using stones and a special type of cement called mortar. Its main job was to bring fresh water to the mission.
Why Was Water So Important?
The water from the aqueduct was vital for many reasons. It supplied drinking water for the people living at Mission San Buenaventura. It also irrigated, or watered, the mission's large fields and pastures. This helped the mission grow crops and raise animals, making it a successful place.
Building the Aqueduct
Historians aren't completely sure exactly when the aqueduct was built. Some say it was constructed between 1780 and 1790. They believe Chumash Indians built it under the guidance of a Spanish priest. This priest was likely skilled in hydrology, which is the study of how water moves.
Other stories suggest the aqueduct was built a bit later, in the 1790s. There's also a belief that skilled stonemasons from Mexico built it between 1805 and 1815. No matter the exact date, it was a huge project for its time.
What's Left Today?
Sadly, not much of the original aqueduct remains today. Over the years, many parts of it were destroyed.
Why Did It Disappear?
- Floods: A very big flood in 1862 washed away large sections.
- Building Materials: Later, settlers used stones from the old aqueduct to build their own homes.
- Time and Development: Floods, farming, neglect, and new buildings slowly turned most of the aqueduct into rubble.
The Last Remaining Piece
The only important section that still exists is about 100 feet long and ten feet high. It's located near Canyada canyon. This part is special because experts think it worked like a siphon. A siphon is a clever way to move water uphill through pipes. You can find this remaining section at 234 Canada Larga Road.
Protecting This History
In the early 1970s, people realized how important this old aqueduct was. They wanted to save the last remaining piece.
Landmark Status
- In 1972, the Ventura County Cultural Heritage Commission declared it a county landmark. This helped protect it.
- The next year, county leaders voted to buy the land where the aqueduct section stands.
- In 1975, the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important historical sites in the United States.
- To keep it safe from damage, the site was fenced off in 1977.
- It was also recognized as a California Historical Landmark in 1985.
Recent Challenges
Even with these protections, preserving the aqueduct has been a challenge. In 1989, a small, newly found section was accidentally destroyed during house construction. The Cultural Heritage Board tried to stop more damage. The homeowner ended up building his house over a 20-foot section, keeping it safe in his basement.
More recently, people who care about history have worried that the county isn't doing enough to protect the main remaining section. In 1998, a newspaper article described it as "forlornly" sitting in a weedy area. Even though the county owns the site and knows it's an "engineering marvel," there hasn't been enough money for repairs. Also, heavy rains from weather patterns like El Niño have continued to cause the aqueduct to wear away.
