Founded in 1932, the Santa Barbara Historical Museum is committed to preserving and sharing local history. Its mission is to be a repository, interpreter and communicator of the rich history of the Santa Barbara region. Through exhibitions, scholarship, educational programs and preservation of the region’s material culture, their goal is to connect people of all backgrounds to historically important ideas, people and objects.
The Museum’s extensive holdings include paintings, furniture, saddles, decorative arts, and costumes that represent over 500 years of Chumash, Mexican, Spanish and American history.
Visitors to the Museum’s campus may experience history through the signature exhibition, The Story of Santa Barbara, the historic adobes buildings onsite and also through the Gledhill Research Library.
The Museum is located in the historic district of downtown at 136 East De la Guerra Street, just two blocks off of State Street.
Entrance is currently free.