Spanish era thumb|left|Mission San Buenaventura in 1839 thumb|left|Don Raymundo Olivas, a retired Californio soldier, built the Olivas Adobe in 1841 on his Rancho San Miguel. thumb|left|Village of San Buenaventura in 1865 In 1769, the Spanish Portolà expedition, first recorded European visitors to inland areas of California, came down the Santa Clara River Valley from the previous night's encampment near today's Saticoy and camped near the outlet of the Ventura River on August 14. Fray Juan Crespi, a Franciscan missionary traveling with the expedition, noted that "we saw a regular town, the most populous and best laid-out of all that we had seen on the journey up to the present time." Archaeological records found that the Chumash village they encountered was settled sometime around AD 1000. Junípero Serra, first leader of the Franciscans in California, founded Mission San Buenaventura in 1782 as his ninth and last mission established near the Chumash village as part of Spain's colonization of Alta California. The mission was named for St. Bonaventure, a 13th-century Franciscan saint and a Doctor of the Church. San Miguel Chapel was the first outpost and center of operations while the first Mission San Buenaventura was being constructed. The first mission burned in 1801 and a replacement building of brick and stone was completed in 1809. The bell tower and facade of the new mission was destroyed by an 1812 earthquake.Hogle, Gene NAC Green Book of Pacific Coast Touring (1931) National Automobile Club p.25 The Mission was rebuilt and functions as a parish church.
Spanish era thumb|left|Mission San Buenaventura in 1839 thumb|left|Don Raymundo Olivas a retired Californio soldier built the Olivas Adobe in 1841 on his Rancho San Miguel thumb|left|Village of San Buenaventura in 1865 In 1769 the Spanish Portolà expedition first recorded European visitors to inland areas of California came down the Santa Clara River Valley from the previous night's encampment near today's Saticoy and camped near the outlet of the Ventura River on August 14 Fray Juan Crespi a Franciscan missionary traveling with the expedition noted that "we saw a regular town the most populous and best laid-out of all that we had seen on the journey up to the present time" Archaeological records found that the Chumash village they encountered was settled sometime around AD 1000 Junípero Serra first leader of the Franciscans in California founded Mission San Buenaventura in 1782 as his ninth and last mission established near the Chumash village as part of Spain's colonization of Alta California The mission was named for St Bonaventure a 13th-century Franciscan saint and a Doctor of the Church San Miguel Chapel was the first outpost and center of operations while the first Mission San Buenaventura was being constructed The first mission burned in 1801 and a replacement building of brick and stone was completed in 1809 The bell tower and facade of the new mission was destroyed by an 1812 earthquakeHogle Gene NAC Green Book of Pacific Coast Touring (1931) National Automobile Club p25 The Mission was rebuilt and functions as a parish church