Culture
El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park
Established by the Spanish military in 1782 as a fortress, El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park became Santa Barbara’s birthplace. The 5.5-acre park anchors downtown Santa Barbara’s Presidio District and includes two historic adobes—El Cuartel and the Cañedo Adobe. The latter serves as the visitor center and houses informative exhibitions including one room dedicated to the history of Santa Barbara’s Japanese community that lived in the Presidio in the early 20th century. The Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation has overseen a meticulous reconstruction of the sites, down to the period furnishings and displays. The Presidio Chapel is among the remarkable buildings open for self-guided tours.
Casa De L Guerra
Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation also manages Casa De La Guerra, which was constructed between 1818 and 1828 by Jose de la Guerra, a patriarch of the community in the Mexican era. De la Guerra served as the fifth military commander of the Presidio and his family resided in the historic adobe house, which is now a museum featuring original furnishings, rotating art exhibits, and historical displays dedicated to California’s Hispanic heritage.
Santa Barbara Historical Museum
Santa Barbara’s entire history comes to life at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, one of the city’s oldest cultural institutions dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and sharing the community’s heritage and traditions. The signature Story of Santa Barbara exhibition starts with the native Chumash people and travels through the eras, including the Spanish and Mexican periods as well as Santa Barbara’s star turn as a film industry hub in the early 1900s. Permanent exhibits cover fascinating local history from how the city got its name to its time as an arts colony and the creation of Chinatown. The grounds also feature two historic adobes: Casa Covarrubias dating back to 1817 and the 1838 Historic Adobe. The Historical Museum does not charge admission and reservations are not required.
Santa Barbara Museum of Art
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art (SBMA)is yet another example of the world-class caliber of Santa Barbara’s arts scene. Established in 1941, SBMA’s 27,000-piece permanent collection includes antiquities, Asian art, Latin American art, photography, sculptures, and 19th and 20th Century European, British, and American Art. The museum also stages an impressive selection of special rotating exhibitions, such as Through Vincent’s Eyes: Van Gogh and His Sources, now on display through May 2022. A children’s gallery is dedicated to hands-on, interactive activities and, during normal times, the museum hosts popular after-hours events and educational talks.
Mark your calendar for August 15, when the SBMA will celebrate its 80th anniversary with a grand re-opening after a $50 million renovation. Visitors to the museum can experience new gallery spaces and public areas, and a fresh installation conceived by SBMA Deputy Director and Chief Curator Eik Kahng.