Santa Barbara County Courthouse

Santa Barbara County Courthouse
Santa Barbara County Courthouse, exterior view from the clock tower, showing the Sunken Garden
Santa Barbara County Courthouse is located in California
Santa Barbara County Courthouse
Santa Barbara County Courthouse is located in the United States
Santa Barbara County Courthouse
LocationSanta Barbara, California
Coordinates34°25′27.66″N 119°42′8.86″W / 34.4243500°N 119.7024611°W / 34.4243500; -119.7024611
Area4.65 acres (1.88 ha)
Built1926
ArchitectWilliam Mooser
NRHP reference No.81000177[1]
CHISL No.1037[2]
Added to NRHPJanuary 23, 1981

The Santa Barbara County Courthouse[3] (Courthouse) is a well-known example of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and is located in Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, California. Started in 1926 and completed in 1929, the Courthouse originally served as Santa Barbara County’s (County) superior courthouse, jail, and administrative office. The Courthouse was included on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981, was made a City of Santa Barbara Historic Landmark in 1982, a California Historical Landmark in 2004, and a National Historic Landmark in 2005.[4] Over the years, most County administrative offices were relocated to other County buildings.  The current Courthouse houses six County Superior Court rooms, the Mural Room (formerly the Supervisors Assembly Room),[5] the County Hall of Records,[6] the County Public Defender's Office,[7] offices of the County General Services Department,[8] and the McMahon Law Library.[9]  The Courthouse is open to the public and is a popular site for community gatherings and weddings. Architect Charles Willard Moore called it the "grandest Spanish Colonial Revival structure ever built," and the prime example of Santa Barbara's adoption of Spanish Colonial as its civic style.[10]

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. ^ "California Historical Landmark: Santa Barbara County". Office of Historic Preservation. California State Parks. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  3. ^ "Home/Superior Court of California". Superior Court of Santa Barbara, County of Santa Barbara. January 2, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  4. ^ "Santa Barbara County Courthouse". January 2, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  5. ^ "The Santa Barbara County Courthouse: A Community and Global Icon". January 2, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  6. ^ "Clerk Recorder/Santa Barbara County". County of Santa Barbara Clerk, Recorder, Assessor & Elections. January 2, 2024.
  7. ^ "Public Defender/Santa Barbara County". County of Santa Barbara Public Defender. January 2, 2024.
  8. ^ "General Services/Santa Barbara County". County of Santa Barbara General Services. January 2, 2024.
  9. ^ "Santa Barbara County Law Library". Santa Barbara County Law Library. January 2, 2024.
  10. ^ "Sketch Together at Home: Santa Barbara County Courthouse". ICAA (Institute of Classic Architecture & Art). January 10, 2024.