Evoke the romance of early Spanish California by celebrating your wedding or special occasion on the grounds of this cultural landmark located in the heart of Santa Barbara's historic district. Enjoy the ambience of two private, interconnected courtyards distinguished by native and exotic landscaping and accented with splashing fountains.
Museum Courtyard
Discover the romance of early California. The splash of a fountain accents the serene beauty of this tree-shaded courtyard. Surrounded on three sides by the warm earth tones of an adobe cloister, this site is reminiscent of a time when mi casa es su casa was a way of life in Santa Barbara.
 Casa Covarrubias
Shaded by a sturdy oak, the courtyard of this 1817 adobe invokes a time when life was lived at a slower pace. Vines decorate a picturesque pergola and a gentle fountain adds to the early California ambiance of this space.
Current Events
The Gledhill Library is open to the public Tuesdays through Fridays 10 AM to 4 PM. It is also open on the first Saturday of the month, 1 PM to 4 PM. For more information, please call (805) 966-1601 x 105.
The Fernald Mansion and the Trussell-Winchester Adobe will be closed due to construction July 26th until September 6th, 2008.
EXHIBITIONS: The Museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays noon through 5 p.m. Admission is free; donations are appreciated. The Santa Barbara Historical Museum is located at 136 East De la Guerra Street, Santa Barbara.
The Gift of History: Recent Acquistions to the Permanent Collection March 17, 2008 through Summer 2008 
Madonna with Christ, c 1820
Belonged to Presidio Comandante Don Jose de la Guerra family Gift of Delfina Russell Mott 2004 Today, the preservation and understanding of our history is vitally important not only to our personal future, but to that of our nation as well. We live as we do today because of the achievements and sacrifices of those who came before us. To understand our place in time, to know who we truly are, to comprehend what we stand for and to face the future with courage, we need our history. The founders of the Santa Barbara Historical Museum realized this. Their goal was to collect and preserve Santa Barbara’s continuing history and to share it with others. Today, the museum is the primary repository of our collective cultural heritage and ethnic diversity. It captures the sweep of human imagination, exploration and inquiry, revealing what we know about ourselves and the world around us. The museum is continually improving and expanding its comprehensive collections with new acquisitions through numerous gifts and purchases. This exhibition showcases recent additions to our museum by celebrating and honoring the many donors and supporters who have made possible the growth of our distinguished collections by offering the invaluable gift of history.
The Story of Santa Barbara Permanent Installation 
The Story of Santa Barbara is the Museum's signature exhibition that tells our region's story from the age of the Chumash to the Space Age. Showcasing treasures from the collections, it fills three of the Museum's four galleries and offers visitors the opportunity to learn about the people who have called our region home for more than 14,000 years. Native American, Mexican, African-American, Italian, Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese people have contributed to Santa Barbara's rich cultural heritage and ethnic diversity. They brought with them unique skills, foods and religious beliefs as well as their distinctive architecture, tools, clothing and objects of everyday life. From America's eastern shores, ships brought young men seeking their Gold Rush fortunes and trains brought those already well established to build baronial mansions here and bless Santa Barbara with their largesse.
Up-Coming Events
LOCAL HISTORY LECTURE TBD (for information please call (805) 966-1601)
SPECIAL EVENTS (for information and reservations, call (805) 966-1601 x 110) Please RSVP with MasterCard, VISA or check. Reservations are accepted by mail, telephone (805) 966-1601 x 110, Fax (805) 966-1603 or email membership@sbhistorical.org.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Officers Edgar L. Sands, President Eleanor Van Cott, 1st Vice President Lawrence T. Hammett, 2nd Vice President John W. Hunt, Treasurer Marilyn DeYoung, Secretary Trustees Daniel Alef Jon S. Bull Donald M. Fuhrer Leslie L. Hovey Keith J. Mautino Marlene R. Miller John J. Mitchell III Robin Schutte Diane Waterhouse Staff David S. Bisol, Executive Director Douglas A. Diller, Assistant Director/Curator Michael E. Redmon, Director of Research Robin R. Roe, Director of Education Frances A. Wasielewski, Marketing Coordinator Jeanne Buchanan, Membership Coordinator Juan Cervantes, Director of Maintenance
Upon the foundation of the past, we build a future worth remembering
136 East De La Guerra Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Telephone (805) 966-1601 | 
