United States Post Office-Santa Barbara Main facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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US Post Office--Santa Barbara Main
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Location | 836 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, California |
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Area | 1.3 acres (0.53 ha) |
Built | 1937 |
Architect | Reginald Davis Johnson |
Architectural style | Art Deco, Mission/spanish Revival |
MPS | US Post Office in California 1900-1941 TR |
NRHP reference No. | 85000138 |
Added to NRHP | January 11, 1985 |
The U.S. Post Office in Santa Barbara, California is a special building. It serves as both a post office and a federal office building. This building is a great example of two cool architectural styles: Mission Revival and Art Deco.
It's a very important building in the old part of Santa Barbara, California. A famous architect named Reginald Davis Johnson designed it in the 1930s. The building was finished in 1937. It still looks almost exactly as it did when it was new. The inside has changed very little, and the outside, including its gardens, looks the same.
What Makes It Special?
The Santa Barbara Post Office looks a lot like traditional Spanish buildings. It has a roof made of terra cotta tiles. Its walls are white and covered in stucco. This design helps it fit in with other buildings in Santa Barbara.
Design Details
The building is made from strong reinforced concrete. While it has the overall shape of Mission Revival buildings, its smaller details are Art Deco. You can see zigzag patterns, which were a favorite of architect Reginald Davis Johnson. The bronze doors and other metal parts also show the Art Deco style.
Inside, you can find cool designs by William Atkinson. These designs are called Streamline Moderne. They use shapes and ideas popular in the 1930s.
A Historic Landmark
The Santa Barbara Post Office is recognized as an important historical place. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 11, 1985. This means it's a building worth protecting for future generations.