From the late-1700s establishment of San Buenaventura Mission to today’s bustling Ventura Harbor Village, rich waters and fertile soil have attracted commerce and community to this gem of a coastal town. Those lucky enough to call Ventura home take great pride in its authentic character — it’s the real deal Southern California beach town that defies time as it keeps history alive. In what ways has that picture-perfect soul stayed true? See for yourself.
Founded in 1782 — the ninth Spanish mission established in California — the San Buenaventura Mission began as the literal and figurative center of the community; at its peak, in 1816, over 1,300 people lived within its walls. The city grew around it. But the mission remained, like a quiet heartbeat.
It was, and is, known as the Mission by the Sea, a lovely name both simple and apt. It has been tested by floods, earthquakes, and even a threatened pirate attack. Today, the mission remains quiet, a place of peace just steps away from busy Main Street. Visitors are welcome from sunrise to sunset to explore its beautiful gardens and faithfully restored artifacts.
One of the city’s most enduring symbols has brought locals and visitors together for generations. Ventura Pier was built beginning in 1871 by a local barge operator. Built to be a wharf, the original structure had no railings and was used primarily for unloading passengers and supplies. Over the next three decades, the steady trade passing through the wharf spurred Ventura’s growth into a thriving community. But there were also storms, shipwrecks, and fires, which shifted the structure’s length over time. For nearly 60 years it was even the largest wooden pier on the California coast, measuring 1,958 feet.
Today, the 1,620-foot-long wooden walkway is a popular community gathering place where fishers bring in crabs and lobster and visitors take in views of surfers, the city, and the scenic Channel Islands. With history panels, a snack bar, a gift shop, craft brewery, and a seafood restaurant, the pier’s appeal remains undeniable.
The hub of the city’s casually cool vibe, Downtown Ventura is just blocks from the beachfront. Here you’ll find upscale boutiques and galleries, laid-back surf shops, craft breweries, locally-owned wineries, and an impressive selection of vintage and antique shops, all clustered among an eclectic mix of architecturally interesting and historically significant structures. (More than 90 percent of the stores and restaurants are locally owned!) But Downtown hasn’t always been the center of activity.
Jefferson Crane, a settler to Buenaventura who arrived in 1866, once said,
“I cannot recall more than 15 inhabited homes outside the then small town of San Buenaventura, which consisted of that portion of Main Street west of the Mission Church. Not a habitation east or southeast.”
Step through Ventura's 150-year history with the complimentary “Historic Walking Tour Guide.”
