Historian

I focus on Santa Barbara History from a Chicano Perspective with a focus on Spanish and Native history.

Growing up in the Santa Barbara, California area as an avid observer, I didn’t know much about my heritage, but I was fortunate that my parents migrated to this beautiful part of the world where it’s rich in art, culture, and history wherever you go. I studied under Manuel Unzueta, Dr. Thomas Carrasco and History Proffesor Robert Villanueva. Also, My parents are from Mexico with the heritage of Chichimeca, Purepecha and Iberian Penisula roots.

I started Chicano Culture de Santa Barbara in 2014 as a natural duty to represent our community by going on boots on the ground to honor stories that make the Santa Barbara area special on Facebook and it had evolved project to empower youth and foster community pride in the Santa Barbara area.

There’s a pyramid in Santa Barbara, California. Photo by Michael Montenegro
At Teotihuacan, Mexico – staring at the pyramid of the Sun in 2013. I also explored underneath the Feathered Serpent Pyramid with Serio Gomez . Photo by Michael Montenegro
Image shows my annual Santa Barbara Mural Bike Ride; history on bicycle wheels, We visited Syuxtun Story Circle , Chumash land, which is a beautiful mosaic mural on Cabrillo Blvd.
My “Santa Barbara History from a Chicano Perspective” presentation was a success at La Casa de la Raza in 2019.