Downtown Santa Barbara's Architectural History Walking Tour

Reservation required. Check-in and tour will begin at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Gardens.

Santa Barbara is internationally recognized for its architectural beauty. Anchored on variants of the Spanish Colonial Revival style, it's a reminder of the city's Hispanic past as crafted by talented architects and designers.

Join the Museum for a walking tour exploring some of the most significant structures in the heart of downtown, revealing how pivotal historical events—most notably the 1925 earthquake—and visionary architects helped shape the cohesive aesthetic we admire today.

Along the way, we'll visit downtown landmarks including the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, Public Library and Faulkner Gallery, IOOF Lodge Building, La Arcada Plaza, Elks Club Building, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, San Marcos Building, Granada Theatre, Harley Building, Christian Science Reading Room, and the Arlington Theatre. Together, these buildings tell the story of a city that intentionally designed its future while honoring its past.

Parking & Directions

Free parking is available at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, a 10-minute walk from the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Gardens. From the Historical Museum, walk north on Santa Barbara Street, crossing Canon Perdido, Figueroa, and Anapamu Streets. At Anapamu, turn left into the Santa Barbara County Courthouse grounds to reach the Gardens.

Paid parking closest to the County Courthouse Gardens is available at City of Santa Barbara Downtown Parking Lot #6 (Granada Garage), at 1221 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. From Parking Lot #6, exit onto Anacapa Street and walk one block south to East Anapamu Street. Turn left (east) on Anapamu and walk one block; the Santa Barbara County Courthouse will be on your right. Enter the grounds and walk toward the large grassy lawn — the Sunken Gardens — just inside the main entrance.

Your Tour Guide

This tour will be led by Paul Longanbach. A Santa Barbara resident for 15 years, Paul has developed a deep appreciation for the art, architecture, and history that have shaped the city’s cultural heritage. For the past decade, he has led art and architecture tours throughout Santa Barbara and has served on the boards of the Santa Barbara Architectural Foundation, the Student Art Fund, Ensemble Theatre Company, and currently the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.

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Host or Publisher Santa Barbara Historical Museum