The
city of Santa Barbara has a rich history, dating back to the Chumash Indians
who had lived on the land for thousands of years prior to the area’s discovery
by Portuguese explorer Juan Cabrillo in 1542. In 1602, Sebastian Vizcaino would name
the area for Saint Barbara, whose feast day fell on December 4, the day Vizcaino
first sailed into the Santa Barbara Channel.
This
period of discovery would be followed by the development of missions at the
hands of Franciscan monks, along with the influence of American settlers in
later centuries. Together, the accumulation of architecture and cultural
traditions help make Santa Barbara a historic city with a distinct local
flavor. Because of the early historic preservation efforts undertaken by the
city, many of Santa Barbara’s most important sites remain intact and open for
visitors.
The
following five sites located in the city pay homage to a past steeped in many
cultures, and provide visitors with an excellent way to spend a day exploring
and learning about the city’s history.
1. El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park
Established
on 5.5 acres of land, El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park is the
site of the city’s fourth and final military outpost constructed by the
Spanish. Erected in 1782, the Spanish word “presidio” translates to “fortress”
in English, an accurate word for the quadrangle, which is surrounded by an outer
wall equipped with two cannons.
 |
| Image courtesy user Al R on Flickr |
Within
the walls of the Presidio, visitors can independently explore restored replicas
of buildings such as the Chapel, Padres’ Quarters, and Comandancia, as well as El
Cuartel, a guardhouse that is the second-oldest surviving structure in the
state of California. The park is open every day from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
and charges a $5 admission fee for adults.
2. Old Mission Santa Barbara
The
Spanish Franciscans orchestrated the construction of 21
missions in the state of California,
and the Old Mission in Santa Barbara was the tenth to be established. The
registered historic landmark received a special designation among the 21 as
“Queen of the Missions,” and is the only mission in the state that has
continuously been run by Franciscans since its foundation.
 |
| Image courtesy Wally Gobetz on Flickr |
Settled
on a hilltop downtown, the mission complex encompasses gardens, a historic
cemetery, and a museum, as well as the church itself. The external architecture
of the church retains a Spanish colonial style, and the inside is decorated
with original paintings and artistic pieces created by the Chumash people.
Visitors can choose between self-guided or docent-guided tours of the mission
between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. daily.
3. Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park
Outside
of the city, a cave carved into massive limestone boulders offers locals and
tourists the opportunity to see paintings of the ancient Chumash people
firsthand. Though the exact age of the paintings is not known, academics estimate
that that they were created sometime around the early 17th century. The
colorful pictures were drawn with paint made from minerals found in the area.
After being mixed with a binder, they were then applied to cave walls using
fingers or animal-tail brushes.
 |
| Image courtesy David Seibold on Flickr |
Chumash
Painted Cave State Historic Park is located about half an hour outside of the
city, three miles south of the San Marcos Pass. The cave is open from sunrise
to sunset each day, and is accessed via a steep and narrow road unfit for RVs
or trucks with trailers. Layered clothing is recommended, as the cave’s
location within the canyon can make the climate cool year-round.
4. Stearns Wharf
Built
by John Peck Stearns in 1872 to help make cargo transfer from ship to land
easier in the Santa Barbara Channel, Stearns Wharf is the oldest wooden wharf
in the state still in operation. Because of the wharf’s construction, incoming
ships were able to anchor offshore at low tide, which effectively solved the
problem of Santa Barbara’s inaccessibility due to being surrounded by water and
mountains.
 |
| Image courtesy user Brian on Flickr |
At
first, the wharf served predominantly as a transportation hub, but today
functions as a popular merchant center, complete with restaurants, museums, and
specialty shops. This historic site is a
necessary visit for anyone looking to eat fresh seafood, learn about marine
life, and pick up local souvenirs.
5. Casa del Herrero
A
sweeping historic estate designed by George Washington Smith, Casa del Herrero
was home to George Fox Steedman, the owner of machine shop and foundry Curtis
& Co. Translated from Spanish, “Casa del Herrero” means “house of the
blacksmith.”
This
local landmark is a testament to the period between the late 19th and early 20th
centuries when estate owners took it upon themselves to express their artistic
tastes through the construction of elaborate homes and gardens. Completed in
1925, the home took four years and multiple architects to finish, with antique
pieces such as tiles and furniture imported directly from Spain.
The
house is done in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, and features white stucco
walls, many arches, intricate tiles, and ornate ironwork. Additionally, the lush gardens that extend behind the main house are
among the most breathtaking in the city, punctuated by tiled pools, outdoor
rooms, and decorative benches.
