City of Santa Barbara Historic Landmarks facts for kids

The City of Santa Barbara Historic Landmarks are special places and buildings in Santa Barbara, California that have been chosen because they are important to history. Think of them like treasures that tell stories about the past!

You can see where these landmarks are on a map by clicking "OpenStreetMap" in the box to the right.

Santa Barbara's Cool Historic Spots

Santa Barbara is full of amazing old buildings and natural spots that have been saved because they are important to the city's history. These places are called "historic landmarks." They help us remember how Santa Barbara grew and changed over many years.

Old Buildings and Homes

Many of Santa Barbara's historic landmarks are old homes and buildings. They show us what life was like long ago.

• Orena Adobes: These old adobe homes were built in 1849 and 1858. Adobes are buildings made from sun-dried mud bricks, a common way to build in early California.
• Lugo Adobe/Meridian Studios: This building dates back to around 1830. It shows how buildings were used and changed over time, becoming studios later on.
• Hill–Carrillo Adobe: Built in 1825-1826, this adobe is also a California Historical Landmark. It's a great example of early California architecture.
• Casa De la Guerra: This very old house was built between 1819 and 1827. It was the home of a very important family in Santa Barbara's early days.
• Gonzales-Ramirez Adobe: This adobe home was built in 1825. It was lived in by the Gonzales family for nearly 100 years! Today, it's a place that sells rare books.
• Janssens–Orella–Birk Building: This building, first built around 1859, shows how buildings changed over time with additions in 1915 and 1927.
• Hezekiah G. and Pearl Chase Home: Built in 1904, this house belonged to Hezekiah G. Chase, who was important in Santa Barbara's development.
• Simpson House: This house, built in 1874-1875, is another example of the beautiful homes from Santa Barbara's past.
• Cota-Knox House: Built in 1871, this house is another piece of Santa Barbara's residential history.
• The Hodges House: This home, built in 1921, is a beautiful example of the Italian Mediterranean style of architecture.
• George Edwards House: Built in 1887, this Queen Anne style house was designed by a famous architect named Thomas Nixon.

Important Public Places

Some landmarks are places where people gathered, worked, or traveled.

• Faith Mission/Hotel Savoy: This building from 1889 has had different uses over the years, from a mission to a hotel.
• Southern Pacific Railroad Station (Amtrak Station): Built in 1905, this beautiful train station is in the Spanish Mission Revival style. It's still used today for trains!
• Santa Barbara County Courthouse: Built between 1927 and 1929, this courthouse is a huge and beautiful building. It's even a National Historic Landmark, which means it's important to the whole country!
• El Cuartel: This very old building from 1788 was part of the original Spanish fort in Santa Barbara. It's one of the oldest buildings in California!
• El Paseo and Casa de la Guerra: These areas, developed between 1911 and 1929, are famous for their Spanish-style architecture and shops. They are a popular spot for visitors.
• Mission Santa Barbara: Founded in 1786 by Padre Fermín Lasuén, this Spanish mission is one of the most famous landmarks in Santa Barbara. It's also a National Historic Landmark!
• Arlington Theatre: Built in 1930-1931, this theater is a grand place to watch movies or live shows. It has a unique Spanish Colonial Revival style.
• Plaza del Mar Band Shell: This band shell from 1919 is where concerts and events happen in Plaza del Mar park.
• Santa Barbara Post Office: Built in 1936-1937, this post office has a cool design that mixes Mission Revival and Art Deco styles.
• National Guard Armory: Built in 1938, this building and its rose garden are important historical sites.
• City Hall and Pepper Tree: The city's main government building, built in 1924, is also a landmark, along with a special pepper tree.
• Granada Building: Built in 1924, this building includes the Granada Theatre, a beautiful place for performances.
• Veterans Memorial Building: Built in 1927 and remodeled in 1937, this building honors veterans and has a Spanish Colonial Revival style.
• The Masonic Temple: This building, constructed in 1924, is home to the Santa Barbara Masonic Lodge.
• Santa Barbara News-Press: The building for the local newspaper, built in 1922, is also a historic landmark.
• Our Lady of Sorrows Church: This church, built in 1929, is a significant religious landmark in the city.
• Santa Barbara County National Bank: Built in 1919, this bank building shows off the Spanish Colonial Revival style, designed by a famous architect named Myron Hunt.

Nature's Landmarks

Not all landmarks are buildings! Some are important trees or natural spots.

• Tree of Light: This tree, dating back to around 1878, is a special natural landmark.
• Moreton Bay Fig Tree and Park: Planted around 1874, this giant fig tree is one of the largest in the world! It's a truly amazing sight.
• Charles Caldwell Park Watering Trough and Fountain: This watering trough and fountain from 1911-1912 provided water for animals and people long ago.
• Doremus Stone Pine trees: These 79 mature trees, planted in 1908 and 1929, line the streets and are a beautiful part of the city's landscape.
• Fernald Eucalyptus Tree: This eucalyptus tree, from around 1890, is another important natural landmark.
• Cottage Hospital Morton Bay Fig Tree: Another impressive Moreton Bay Fig Tree, planted around 1919, is located at Cottage Hospital.
• Five Corymbia (Eucalyptus) Trees: These five trees, from around 1930, are also recognized for their historical and natural value.
• Rattlesnake Canyon Bridge: Built in 1919, this bridge is made of sandstone and is a cool example of old craftsmanship in a natural setting.

Schools and Learning Places

Several schools and educational buildings are also historic landmarks.

• Santa Barbara Junior High School: This school, built in 1932, is an important part of the city's educational history.
• La Cumbre Junior High School: Built in 1927-1928, this school also holds a place in Santa Barbara's history.
• McKinley Elementary School: This elementary school, built in 1931, is another landmark in the city's school system.
• Santa Barbara High School: The main building of this high school, built in 1924, and its ticket booth from 1934, are important landmarks for education in Santa Barbara.
• Central Library, Faulkner Gallery: The library, built in 1917 with additions in 1930, is a key place for learning and community.
• St. Anthony's Seminary and Grounds: This large campus, with buildings from 1901-1949, has a long history of education and religious study.

Images for kids

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  Orena Adobes

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  Faith Mission/Hotel Savoy

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  Southern Pacific Railroad Station (Amtrak Station)

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  Santa Barbara County Courthouse

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  Hill–Carrillo Adobe

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  Moreton Bay Fig Tree

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  Covarrubias Adobe

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  El Paseo

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  Casa de la Guerra

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  Rafael Gonzalez House

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  Mission Santa Barbara

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  Arlington Theatre

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  Janssens–Orella–Birk Building

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  Ambassador Park

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  Hezekiah G. and Pearl Chase Home

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  Santa Barbara Post Office

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  Mission Historical Park

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  Santa Barbara High School

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  Granada Building

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  Veterans Memorial Building

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  Rattlesnake Canyon Bridge

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  Our Lady of Sorrows Church