Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Santa Barbara County Courthouse

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 4, 2019

1. Santa Barbara County Courthouse Marker

Inscription. The Santa Barbara County Courthouse is one of America's finest representations of Spanish-Andalusian architecture in a public structure. It stands as the prized jewel of the county whose people it serves and whose visitors it delights. After the devastating Earthquake of 1925, the County of Santa Barbara hired the William Mooser Company to design a new home for county government. The building was completed in August 1929 at a cost of $1.3 million and is the culmination of community spirit, county leadership and the will of a people to express their historic roots. Architects, designers, artisans and craftsmen employed their talents in this building and the surrounding landscape with consummate levels of skill.

California Registered Historical Landmark No. 1037

Erected 2004 by State Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of the County Architect, County Parks, Courthouse Docent Council, Pearl Chase Society. (Marker Number 1037.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 2005.

Location. 34° 25.448′ N, 119° 42.155′ W. Marker is

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in Santa Barbara, California, in Santa Barbara County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Anacapa Street and E. Anapamu Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara CA 93101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named Santa Barbara County Courthouse (a few steps from this marker); Jose Francisco De Ortega (a few steps from this marker); First Ruling Sovereign of Europe to Visit America (within shouting distance of this marker); President Reagan Meets Queen Elizabeth II (within shouting distance of this marker); Tympanum (within shouting distance of this marker); Myron Hunt (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Janssens-Orella Adobe House Site (about 700 feet away); Hill-Carrillo Adobe (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Barbara.

More about this marker. The marker is mounted to a low monument on the lawn of the courthouse, just a few footsteps from the Anacapa Street entrance.

Also see . . . Santa Barbara County Courthouse (Wikipedia). "The Santa Barbara County Courthouse is located at 1100 Anacapa Street, in downtown Santa Barbara, California. The Spanish Colonial Revival style building was designed by William Mooser III and completed in 1929. Architect Charles

Santa Barbara County Courthouse Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 4, 2019

2. Santa Barbara County Courthouse Marker - wide view

The marker is most easily spotted from the Anacapa Street courthouse entrance, as by putting the marker and monument up against the bushes under the palm tree, it is nearly impossible to spot from the street.

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. The building replaced a smaller Greek Revival courthouse built at the same location in 1872–88 and badly damaged in an earthquake on June 29, 1925. The complex was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2005 for its architecture." (Submitted on June 11, 2019.)

Santa Barbara County Courthouse and Gardens - looking S-SE from Anapamu Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 4, 2019

3. Santa Barbara County Courthouse and Gardens - looking S-SE from Anapamu Street

Santa Barbara County Courthouse image. Click for full size.

Carol M. Highsmith (courtesy of the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress), 2012

4. Santa Barbara County Courthouse

Santa Barbara County Courthouse - Clocktower - Anacapa Street side image. Click for full size.

Carol M. Highsmith (courtesy of the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Libary of Congress), 2012

5. Santa Barbara County Courthouse - Clocktower - Anacapa Street side

Credits. This page was last revised on February 21, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 11, 2019, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 186 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 11, 2019, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.