Historian Neal Graffy brought the story of Saint Barbara to life Wednesday evening, guiding a sold-out crowd at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum through the artwork and local landmarks tied to the city’s patron saint.

Graffy’s presentation “Finding Saint Barbara” accompanied the museum’s exhibit of the same name, which explores the saint’s origins and marks 100 years of her presence in Santa Barbara’s Fiesta celebrations.

But for Graffy, the project also became an investigation, as he worked to understand how the stories surrounding Saint Barbara developed over time.

“I had all these questions about where did those stories in the museum come from? How could I tell them?” he said.

During his presentation, Graffy traced different versions of Saint Barbara’s life through centuries of religious tradition and art.

According to the traditional account, Barbara converted to Christianity against her father’s wishes and became associated with a tower containing three windows, symbolizing the Christian Trinity.

Using artwork from different time periods, Graffy showed how details of the legend were altered as the story passed through generations and cultures.

For Graffy, uncovering those differences is part of what makes exploring history worthwhile.

“You can either believe what you hear, or you can dig a little deeper and find out the truth behind what’s being presented to you,” he said.

That history is visible all around Santa Barbara, with images of Saint Barbara appearing on buildings and landmarks throughout the city.

Graffy said some are subtle enough to go unnoticed. He recalled walking beneath one depiction for years before realizing the crowned figure above him was Saint Barbara.

Graffy’s fascination with local history began when he was just 12 years old, working for a woman who lived in an adobe house built from the Presidio ruins. Her home was filled with antiques and memorabilia, but it was the stories she shared with him that stayed with him.

“Every Saturday, I went to work for her, and we would sit down and she would tell me stories about Santa Barbara,” Graffy said. “That’s how I first got interested.”

In addition to exploring Saint Barbara’s ancient origins, the museum exhibit highlights how she became a modern local icon.

Since 1926, 100 women have represented Saint Barbara in Fiesta parades, a legacy documented through historic photographs and newspaper clippings on display.

“Finding Saint Barbara” is free and open to the public at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, and will remain on display through the end of January.

Museum director Dacia Harwood said programs such as Graffy’s presentation are part of the museum’s effort to bring the community together while preserving and sharing its past.

“We have guest speakers, shows and even live music,” Harwood said. “There are always things going on at the museum, and we encourage people to attend.”

For those who missed Wednesday’s event, Harwood said Graffy is expected to return for another “Finding Saint Barbara” presentation early next year, offering another opportunity to learn about the figure behind the city’s name.

More than four centuries after Saint Barbara’s name first reached the California coast, her presence remains woven into the city that still carries her name.

From Fiesta traditions to images tucked into familiar places, Graffy’s research gives residents a reason to look a little closer at the history hiding in plain sight.