Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Don Jose Francisco De Ortega

1734-1798

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 4, 2019

1. Don Jose Francisco De Ortega Marker

Inscription. Chief Scout for Gaspar de Portolá. Ortega assisted with the founding of Mission San Buenaventura and established the presidio at Santa Barbara where he served as commandant from 1781-1784. Husband of Doña María Carrillo.

Erected 2000 by National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Don Jose de Ortega Chapter.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Hispanic Americans. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution series list.

Location. 34° 26.294′ N, 119° 42.82′ W. Marker is in Santa Barbara, California, in Santa Barbara County. It can be reached from the intersection of Laguna Street and East Olivos Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2201 Laguna Street, Santa Barbara CA 93105, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on California’s Central Coast,

specifically on the Coast Ranges,

and specifically in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Santa Barbara Mission (within shouting distance of this marker); Moorish Fountain and Indian Community Laundry (within shouting distance of this marker); Juana Maria (within shouting distance of this marker); Santa Barbara Mission Lavanderia (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Santa Barbara Mission Aqueduct

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(about 300 feet away); Santa Barbara Mission Early Water Supply (about 700 feet away); Mission Historical Park (about 800 feet away); Assembly Required (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Barbara.

More about this marker. The marker is within the Santa Barbara Mission, in the cemetery courtyard.

Also see . . . José Francisco Ortega. Wikipedia entry:
"José Francisco Ortega (1734 – February 1798) was a Spanish soldier and early settler of Alta California. A member of the Portola expedition in 1769, Ortega stayed on to become the patriarch of an important Californio family." (Submitted on March 30, 2019.)

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 4, 2019

2. Don Jose Francisco De Ortega Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 30, 2019, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 928 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 30, 2019, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.