• El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park - Visitors can explore one of California’s oldest buildings here. Constructed in 1782 using Adobe brick, the Presidio features original rooms, soldiers’ gardens, a chapel, and re-creations of 18th-century everyday items. Guests will discover how the buildings were made solely from local materials and can envision life on the outskirts of the once-mighty Spanish Empire.
• 820 Santa Barbara St - The tour will pass by the Rochin Adobe, built in 1856 by a descendant of Captain Francisco Ortega, the first Comandante of the Presidio, using adobe bricks salvaged from the nearly destroyed fort. Around 1900, it was covered in wooden clapboard, which remains today.
• Santa Barbara Historical Museum - Built in 1964 with Adobe brick, the museum exemplifies early California-style architecture. It houses excellent exhibits on local history, including paintings and a collection of etchings. The courtyard features two adobe structures from 1817 and a gift shop, making it a great spot for photos. Guests can choose to explore the exhibits inside.
• 112 E De La Guerra St - The Lugo Adobe and Meridian Studios. Designed by renowned architect George Washington Smith, these picturesque studios were completed in 1925. Visitors can admire the unique pastel-colored stucco walls and large glass windows, as well as an ancient wisteria vine blooming with purple flowers in spring. Behind the studios lies the well-preserved and remodeled Lugo Adobe, built by a retired Presidio soldier in the early 19th century. Its secluded location means it is rarely visited by tourists.
• 802 Anacapa St - Named after the Presidio, to which it is adjacent, this beautiful building was constructed in 1945 and incorporates two original Mexican-period adobes, as well as the 1906 Nardi Hotel. Behind the building is a hidden courtyard and garden, and Presidio St., technically Santa Barbara’s earliest city street, as it was once part of the path from the waterfront to the Presidio and the Mission.
• 28 E De La Guerra St - These Adobes, lining this section of E. De La Guerra St., were built in 1849 by Jose de la Guerra, the fifth Comandante of the Santa Barbara Presidio. They are a perfect example of original Mexican-Californio architecture. Later sold to Gaspar Orena, his descendants still own these structures today!
• City Hall - Constructed in 1923, before the 1925 earthquake, Santa Barbara’s City Hall is an early monument to the Spanish Colonial Revival movement. The building is adorned with hand-painted tiles and features arches extending over the sidewalk. In front, a large California Pepper Tree serves as a city landmark. City Hall, along with Casa de la Guerra and the News-Press Building, faces Plaza de la Guerra, the ceremonial heart of the city.
• Casa de la Guerra - Built in 1819 by Don Jose de la Guerra, the fifth Comandante of the Presidio, as both a mansion for his family and a business center, this adobe remains as impressive as it was in its heyday. It was a hub of cultural and political activities when Santa Barbara was just a few adobes around the Presidio. Today, it remains a town centerpiece, hosting the Fiesta celebrations each summer. It is open to visitors on weekends.
• El Paseo Building - Constructed between 1922-29, El Paseo marked the first major step in transforming Santa Barbara’s architecture from Eastern US main street to Hispanic Pueblo. Visitors can wander through quaint passageways, visit the romantic courtyard, and stroll down the famous “Street in Spain,” before emerging onto State St. proper. A great spot for photos.
• The Historic La Arcada Courtyard - As visitors stroll up State St., Santa Barbara’s main avenue, they will enter the pleasant courtyards of the La Arcada building. This tiled paseo meanders past quaint shops and restaurants through the block’s center, leading to the Santa Barbara County Courthouse. Along the way, enjoy quirky bronze statues, second-story arch bridges, and a fountain filled with live turtles!
• Santa Barbara County Courthouse - The beauty and architectural significance of this building are unparalleled. As the most important 20th-century building in Santa Barbara, it is second only to the Mission in significance and serves as a public monument to the Spanish Colonial Revival movement in the United States. Visitors can marvel at the courthouse’s wonders, from the grand Roman triumphal arch flanked by stone statues on its front facade to its hand-carved column capitals and painted tiles throughout. Once restrictions ease, guests can explore inside, visit the stunning mural room, and ascend the clock tower for a 360-degree view of the entire town!
• Santa Barbara Public Library - With sections dating from 1917, 1925, and 1930, the Santa Barbara Public Library is an impressive structure located directly across from the courthouse. As visitors walk down Anapamu St, they can admire the detailed stone sculptures surrounding the main doorways.
• The Granada Theatre - The Granada Theatre stands out as a city landmark for many reasons; it is the tallest building in Santa Barbara, built in 1924 before the 60ft height ordinance. Its upper floors are adorned with stunning glazed terra cotta. Hopefully, once restrictions ease, visitors can once again marvel at the beautifully restored theatre space inside.
• Arlington Theatre - Another architectural marvel of downtown Santa Barbara, the Arlington Theatre, with its tower rising above the skyline and arched paseo at ground level, offers a pleasant place to relax in the shade. Inside, the theatre space is stunning, designed to resemble a Spanish Village town square. Lined with faux, 3-dimensional building facades and a vaulted roof painted with stars, the effect is achieved beautifully.
• Alameda Park - Established in 1850 as a public space, today’s Alameda parks continue to play a central role in downtown life, hosting events during the Summer Solstice and Earth Day celebrations annually. The parks are planted with a variety of trees from around the world, from redwoods to East African Fern Pines. One block features a bandstand from the 1880s, while another contains an extensive playground known as “Kids’ World.”

The third block of parks was once home to the internationally famous Mirasol Hotel, but after a fire in 1966 severely damaged the building, the entire space was transformed into a stunning botanical garden, complete with a duck pond and rare flowering trees.

• Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens - Once the site of the famous El Mirasol Hotel, this entire square block is now a stunning garden featuring a butterfly meadow that attracts monarchs, a running creek with stepping stones, and a massive Australian Fig tree providing shade over a duck pond with live turtles!
• Santa Barbara Main Post Office - A fascinating blend of Streamline Moderne and Spanish elements, the Santa Barbara Post Office is a delightful building to see. It features sculptures both inside and out.
• 122 E Canon Perdido St - The tour concludes at El Cuartel, across the street from the starting point. This small structure was once part of the Presidio complex and is the oldest building in town, built in 1788. Visitors can explore the rooms and back garden to see a relatively unchanged 18th-century structure and imagine life back then.
• Lobero Theatre - Built in 1924 by esteemed architect George Washington Smith, the Lobero Theatre is a significant city landmark. This site has served as a theatrical space since 1873 when Italian immigrant Jose Lobero opened Southern California’s first opera house here. If restrictions ease, visitors can admire the painted vaulted ceiling inside.

• Guided historical tour

• Parking fees
• Lunch

Join this tour to explore must-see sites and discover hidden architectural treasures known only to locals. The operator has extensively researched local history and possesses a wealth of knowledge. This tour stands out due to the operator’s deep understanding of local history, lore, and architecture, and their ability to answer any questions while revealing hidden spots not found in typical guidebooks. Prior arrangements can be made to tailor the tour to your interests, whether it’s architecture, history, adobe construction, stunning views, or gardens (Santa Barbara boasts one of the largest varieties of trees in its downtown area in the country!). Perhaps a mix of all these interests can be accommodated! The operator is ready to cater to your preferences.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.