1925 Earthquake History Downtown Walking Tour

At 6:42 AM, June 29, 1925, Santa Barbara was rocked for 19 seconds by an earthquake estimated at 6.3 on the Richter scale. Though damage to most homes was light, the downtown business corridor was devastated.

The entire community rose together, within an hour setting up relief facilities and a command center in De la Guerra Plaza while a self-formed home guard patrolled the streets and volunteer crews dug through rubble looking for survivors or victims - eleven perished. No outside help was needed or called for.

Guided by the Spanish-styled buildings that stood through the quake – the Lobero Theater, El Paseo, City Hall, the Daily News Building – within 48 hours the city leaders declared the City would rebuild in the “Santa Barbara style.”

Collection Santa Barbara Historical Museum

Join the Museum for a walking tour that will lead you to the sites of buildings that crumbled, rescues and recovery, and resilient structures that inspired the city’s iconic Spanish Colonial Revival style.

Discover how Santa Barbara transformed tragedy into opportunity—and how the quake reshaped not just the skyline, but the spirit of the community.

The tour will begin at the Museum.

Reservation required.

Neal Graffy is an accomplished author and historian. Active in our historical community, Neal has served as a board member of our Museum, as chairman of the Santa Barbara County Landmarks Commission and president of the Santa Barbara Corral of Westerners.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Santa Barbara Historical Museum