Santa Barbara is a city in California. Santa Barbara developed
around the 1786 built, tenth of the 21 mission stations and an
excellent port. Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo had probably already
discovered the channel between the mainland and the offshore
island in 1542, but it was not until 60 years later that the
Spaniard Sebastiano Vizcaino named the settlement "Santa
Barbara", because he reached the coast on the name day of this
saint. Another 180 years passed before Governor Gaspar de
Portola arrived there with his troops in 1782 and Father
Junipero Serra was to say the first Mass in the newly built
Presidio. Serra did not live to see the completion of what is
widely considered the most beautiful mission in California.
Like everywhere else in California, Santa Barbara's
development was slow. The original mission church was destroyed
by an earthquake in 1812; the second, with its classical facade
and two towers, was just being completed when the Mexicans
decided to secularize the mission station in 1833. Santa
Barbara's early history is closely linked to the Spanish and
Mexicans. The city has retained this character to this day. The
first North Americans to come to the area were New England
traders who bought hides and tallow. On Christmas Day 1846,
Santa Barbara fell to the Americans without a fight.
Another major earthquake in 1925 leveled much of Santa Barbara;
the mission church was also damaged and two years were needed to
restore it (the façade was not finished until 1950). Few of the
19th-century Victorian houses remain; after the earthquake it
was decided to rebuild the destroyed parts of the city in the
old Spanish missionary style. This gave the city a uniform
character that hardly any other Californian city can have. Many
streets kept their Spanish names. The Spanish character of the
streets was emphasized by the Spanish tiled fountains, rubbish
bins and even mailboxes, especially on the city's main
thoroughfare, State Street.
Santa Barbara is 90 miles north of Los Angeles (about a two-hour
drive) and 330 miles south of San Francisco (about a seven-hour drive).
Highway 101 runs right through the city, with about 18 exits leading to
every major street.
By plane
Santa Barbara Airport (SBA), just
north of Santa Barbara off Highway 101. Tel: +1 (805) 967-7111. From
here there are direct flights to the most important cities in the
western United States.
By train
Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner,
209 State St., connects Santa Barbara on the San Luis Obispo - Los
Angeles - San Diego route.
By bus
The Santa Barbara Airbus
shuttles 14 times a day between Los Angeles International Airport and
Santa Barbara. A one-way ticket costs US$ 46 and a return US$ 86. If you
pre-order the tickets online, they are slightly cheaper.
The bus
stops at each terminal of LAX Airport. The route goes via Carpinteria
(stop IHOP - International House of Pancakes, 1114 Casitas Pass Road),
Santa Barbara (stop Hotel MarMonte, 1111 E. Cabrillo Blvd.) to Goleta to
the Santa Barbara Airbus Office, 5755 Thornwood Drive.
The first
trip starts at 4 a.m. and lasts 2½ hours. This is followed by six more
connections at intervals of 2 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the
afternoon. The fare allows you to take two pieces of luggage plus hand
luggage. A small additional fee must be paid for each additional piece.
Public Transportation The Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTD) has its bus terminal at 550 Olive Street. A single journey on the bus costs US$ 1.25, a 10-journey ticket US$ 10.-. With the 22 lines you can easily and inexpensively explore Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara is now one of the most beautiful cities in the USA and
has the great advantage that most of its attractions are close together.
This way you can take a look at them comfortably in a relatively short
time.
churches
Old Mission Santa Barbara. The church lies
between the Santa Ynez Moutains and the Pacific Ocean. You can discover
the mission on your own, or with a guided tour. Tours can be reserved by
calling (805) 682-4149. Open: The mission is open to visitors from 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. Price: Admission is US$5 for adults (12+) and US$1 for
children (6-12). Entry is free for children under the age of 6.
buildings
County Courthouse, 1110 Anacapa Street, ext. 7600. A
Hispano-Moorish palatial building completed after the great earthquake
of 1929. The tiles in the stairwell are mostly Tunisian, while the arch
tiles are of Californian origin. The first-floor porch is a curious mix
of styles: the tiles and a gallery leading to the loggia are Islamic,
the pink window is Romanesque, and the arch decorated with angels is
Byzantine. Double doors lead into the County Supervisors Boardroom: the
murals illustrate the history of the county, beginning with the Indians
who watched the arrival of the first Europeans led by Cabrillo. The
elevator takes you to the El Mirador bell tower, from which you have a
beautiful view of Santa Barbara. The fountain in front of the entrance
represents the "Spirit of the Ocean". Open: Mon - Fri 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sat + Sun 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Price: Admission free.
El Presidio, 122,
123 and 129 East Canon Perdido Street. Founded by the Spaniards in 1782,
the Presidio (Fortress) was severely damaged by the earthquakes of 1806
and 1812 and lost its importance after the arrival of American troops in
1846. Of the original buildings, only El Cuartel, the soldiers'
quarters, and the front rooms of the Canedo Adobe remain. The padre's
apartment and the chapel have been restored. Open: daily 10.30 a.m. –
4.30 p.m. Price: Admission free.
Museums
Museum of Art, 1130
State Street. Housed in a former post office until 1941, the Santa
Barbara Museum of Art has amassed a remarkable, diverse collection in
its relatively short period of existence. A broad spectrum is covered,
from Egyptian works of art, Roman sculptures, an important section of
Asian art to works of French Impressionism, American paintings, photos,
graphics, hand drawings and kinetic art. This rather small museum
deserves attention. Open: Tue, Wed, Fri + Sat 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Thu
until 9 p.m., Sun 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. Price: Admission free.
Historical
Society Museum, 136 East de la Guerra Street. This history museum is
housed in three adobe houses and has a lot of material on the Spanish,
Mexican and early American history of Santa Barbara on display
(including documents and paintings). Open: Tue – Sat 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.,
Sun 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol.
The Natural History Museum exhibits north of the mission include
mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, the skeleton of a blue whale, evidence
of the plant life and geology of the Pacific Coast and Channel Islands,
and a diorama of prehistoric Native American life; there is also a
planetarium with changing shows. Open: Mon - Sat 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun 10
a.m. - 5 p.m. Guided tours Sun 2 p.m.
Streets and squares
Stearns Wharf. The West Coast's oldest surviving wharf, Stearns Wharf
(1872) is a three-block extension of State Street across the Pacific
Ocean, with restaurants, shops and a fishing pier. Open: daily from 7
a.m. to midnight.
Scenic Drive. All of these attractions, with the
exception of the Botanical Gardens, are on Scenic Drive, a blue
signposted road. You will pass exclusive residential areas, as can also
be seen in the suburbs of Santa Barbara - Goleta, Carpinteria and
Montecito. Goleta is home to a University of California campus and a
railroad museum dedicated to Southern California's railroad history. In
Carpinteria, 20 km southeast on Highway 101, is the most beautiful beach
in the area.
Parks
Botanic Garden, 1212 Mission Canyon Road.
In the 26-hectare botanical garden, about 2½ km north of the Missions,
native trees, shrubs, forest and field flowers and cacti grow in a
natural environment, which can be explored on 8 km of easily accessible
paths. A special feature is the dam built in 1806 by Indians under the
direction of the Padres to supply water to the mission and the living
quarters. Open: daily from 8 a.m. to sunset. Price: Free guided tours:
Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 10.30am.
Zoological Gardens, Ninos
Drive, Cabrillo Blvd exit. The Zoological Gardens, not far from the
coast east of Milpas Street, are set in beautiful gardens and feature a
children's zoo in addition to elephants, lions, monkeys, sea lions and
exotic birds. Open: daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., in summer until 6 p.m.
Various
Whale watching in Santa Barbara is virtually year-round.
The so-called whale watching tours last between 2½ hours and half a day.
The main species to be seen are grey, humpback and blue whales. You can
also see dolphins, seals and sea lions and rarely killer whales.
Peak
gray whale season is mid-February to early May (northbound) and December
to early February (southbound). The humpback and blue whales pass Santa
Barbara between mid-May and November.
The whales' route takes them
between the great Channel Islands and the mainland. The sea here is
comparatively calm, but you should still prepare for possible
seasickness. Especially if you are not used to sailing on the sea, it
can get nauseous very quickly.
location and size
The city is located about 137 km northwest of
Los Angeles, directly on the Pacific coast. It lies in a slightly north
rising hill country between the Santa Ynez Mountains in the north and
the Santa Barbara Channel in the south, which separates the American
continent from the offshore Channel Islands.
According to the
United States National Survey, the city has a total area of 107.3 km²,
of which 49.2 km² is land and 58.1 km² is water. The water surface thus
occupies 54.17 percent of the total area.
Because of its Mediterranean climate, this coast on the south side of Santa Barbara County is often referred to as the "American Riviera." The average annual precipitation is 450 mm.
There is a vegetation gradient from south to north. It ranges from sagebrush scrub along the coast to sclerophyllous bushes (chaparral) to mostly loose oak and mixed oak forests on the mountain slopes. Quercus agrifolia and other sclerophyll oaks as well as Pinus sabiniana, also known as digger pine, dominate.
Seabirds can be spotted on the beaches. The pier is haunted by begging young pelicans. The Santa Barbara Channel is used as a migration route by gray whales. Blue whales frolic there in the summer. Whale watching boat tours depart from Santa Barbara Harbor.
As of the 2000 census, there are 92,325 residents, 35,605 households
and 18,941 families in the city. The population density is 1,878.1
inhabitants per km². 74.04 percent White, 2.77 percent Asian, 1.77
percent African American, 1.07 percent Native American, and 0.14 percent
Pacific Islander. 16.37 percent of Santa Barbara residents are of other
races and another 3.85 percent are descendants of multiple races not
listed above. The proportion of the population of Hispanic origin within
the various ethnic groups is 35.02 percent.
Also worth mentioning
is the large proportion of residents of Iranian descent, about one in
six is of Iranian descent, there is a higher density only in Beverly
Hills.
Of the 35,605 households, 24.3 percent have children under
the age of 18, 39.8 percent are made up of married couples, 9.5 percent
are single mothers, and 46.8 percent are non-family. 32.9 percent of all
households are single households. 11.4 percent have a member who is
older than 65 years. The average household size is 2.47 people and the
average family size is 3.17 people.
19.5 percent of the
population is under 18, 13.8 percent between 18 and 24, 32.3 percent
between 25 and 44, 20.4 percent between 45 and 64 and 13.8 percent are
older than 65 years. The average age is 35 years. The ratio between
women and men is 100:97, for people over 18 the ratio is 100:95.
The median household income is $47,498, and $57,880 per family. Men have
a median income of $37,116 and women $31,911. The city's per capita
income is $26,466. 13.4 percent of the population and 7.7 percent of
families live below the poverty line. In terms of age groups, 16.8
percent of these are under 18 and 7.4 percent are over 65. Santa Barbara
has a high percentage of homeless people in the population.
University
Part of the University of California, the University of
California, Santa Barbara campus is located in the suburb of Goleta.
There is also the SBCC (Santa Barbara City College).
Buildings
and monuments
Santa Barbara County Courthouse: The magnificent
building in the center of downtown was built in the style of a
Spanish-Moorish palace after the earthquake in 1929 and is surrounded by
extensive green areas. From the 26 m high bell tower of the building,
the view extends far beyond the city to the Santa Ynez Mountains and
Santa Cruz Island in the Pacific.
Presidio Real "El Cuartel": The
royal fort was built in 1782 and forms the settlement core of Santa
Barbara. It can be visited as a State Historical Park.
Mission Santa
Barbara: The historic mission building is located northeast of downtown.
Founded in 1786, it was the 10th of 21 Franciscan Missions of the
Franciscan Order in California. She was called the Queen of Missions.
Worship services are still held in the mission church today.
The Cold
Spring Tavern is reminiscent of the stagecoach age.
Trinity Episcopal
Church
Museums
The Historical Society Museum, with an
exhibition on the city's history, displays documents, paintings,
costumes and rarities from the city's Spanish, Mexican and American
periods.
Santa Barbara Museum of Art: Museum of the Kunstverein with
sculpture, oriental art and a small collection of contemporary American
art.
Natural History Museum: It is located in the immediate vicinity
of Mission Santa Barbara and provides a natural history overview of
Santa Barbara and the surrounding area, as well as the Pacific Coast and
the Channel Islands. The life of the prehistoric Indians is also shown
in dioramas. A planetarium is connected.
Carriage Museum: Displays
old horse-drawn carriages from Santa Barbara's pioneer days.
Railroad
museum in the 1901 Southern Pacific Railroad roundhouse.
Parks
Botanical Garden: Located on the road to the Santa Ynez Mountains, this
15 acre home to a selection of native trees, shrubs, cacti and herbs, as
well as a historic 1806 Native American dam.
Zoological Gardens: The
Santa Barbara Zoo is located on the U.S. Highway 101, west of Montecito
and is known for its elephant, lion, monkey and sea lion enclosures. A
botanical garden and a petting zoo can also be found on the premises.
Shoreline Park: Parkland with mature cypress and other native trees
along the bluff west of Santa Barbara. A walking and cycling path leads
through the park with views as far as the Channel Islands.
Santa
Barbara Bowl, open-air theater built in 1936 above Santa Barbara.
Particularities
The Moreton Bay Fig: The largest fig tree in
America was planted in 1877 and has branches up to 50 m long. He is at
the U.S. Highway 101 south of downtown.
The pier is an extension of
the main shopping street, State Street, out into the Pacific. It divides
the Pacific beach into a western and an eastern beach.
The moon car,
which was used in the Apollo 15, 16 and 17 missions, was developed at
the General Motors research institute in Santa Barbara in 1969/70.
Santa Barbara is the location of the US crime series Psych, although the
filming location was mainly Canada.
Various punk rock bands like
Lagwagon, Sugarcult or Buck Wild come from Santa Barbara.