Casa de la Guerra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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El Paseo and Casa de la Guerra
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A close-up photo of the northeastern part of the building
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 808–818 State St., 813–819 Anacapa St., and 9–25 E. de la Guerra St., Santa Barbara, California |
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| Area | 1.7 acres (0.69 ha) |
| Built | 1819 |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000346 |
| Added to NRHP | February 2, 1977 |
The Casa de la Guerra is a very old and important house in Santa Barbara, California. It was once the home of José de la Guerra y Noriega, who was a leader of the Presidio of Santa Barbara, a kind of fort. José lived in this house from 1828 until he passed away in 1858. His family continued to live there for many years after him, until 1943.
Today, the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation takes care of the Casa de la Guerra. They run it as a museum, so people can visit and learn about what life was like long ago. The house is located at 15 East De la Guerra Street.
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A Historic Home
When José de la Guerra lived in the house, people called it the casa grande, which means "big house" in Spanish. This was because it had thirteen rooms, which was much larger than most other homes in the area at that time. Most other houses were small, one-room buildings made of adobe (a type of mud brick).
The "Big House" Era
During the time José lived there, he added a small building called the altito. This building was used as his office and also where he kept his money safe. The altito is not there anymore, but it was an important part of the property back then.
Changes Over Time
In 1857, a big earthquake, called the 1857 Fort Tejon earthquake, caused a lot of damage to the house. Because José was getting older and not well, his son Pablo took charge of fixing it. Pablo decided to update the house's look to match the popular style in Santa Barbara at the time, which was Victorian.
Some of the biggest changes Pablo made included replacing the original adobe columns with wooden ones. He also added wooden siding to the outside of the house. These changes made the old Spanish Colonial house look more modern for its time.
A Special Landmark
The Casa de la Guerra is recognized as a very important historical site. It is a Santa Barbara City Landmark and also a California Historical Landmark. This means it's officially recognized for its special history in both the city and the state.
It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places along with a nearby area called Paseo de la Guerra. Together, they are known as "El Paseo and Casa de la Guerra" on this national list.
Visiting the Casa
The house is being carefully restored and furnished to look just as it did between 1828 and 1858. This helps visitors imagine what life was like for the de la Guerra family. You can go inside the Casa de la Guerra on Saturdays and Sundays. The outside of the house can be explored any day.
Images for kids
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Casa de la Guerra
See also
- Paseo de la Guerra
- Pablo de la Guerra
- Antonio Maria de la Guerra
- Alfred Robinson - Anita de la Guerra de Noriega y Carrillo
- History of Santa Barbara, California
- California Historical Landmarks in Santa Barbara County, California
