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Santa Barbara Historical Museum, Santa Barbara, CA
MuseumsHistory BuffFreeLocal Gem

Santa Barbara Historical Museum

Santa Barbara Historical Museum is a museum in Santa Barbara, CA, part of the Los Angeles guide. Cost: free.

136 E De la Guerra St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 · Santa Barbara, CA

Why you should go…

The Santa Barbara Historical Museum, established in 1932, holds more than 90,000 artifacts spanning over 500 years of Chumash, Spanish, Mexican and American history in the region. Its signature exhibit, The Story of Santa Barbara, traces that history through paintings, textiles and decorative arts. The grounds also include two historic adobes dating from 1817 and 1836. Admission is free.

  • #history
  • #museum
  • #free
  • #chumash
  • #architecture

What's around here?

The closest stops to Santa Barbara Historical Museum, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    Date Night

    Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail

    Free

    Self-guided trail linking over 20 walkable wine tasting rooms across downtown Santa Barbara neighborhoods.

    0.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Attractions
    Quirky Fun

    Cat Therapy

    Under $25

    Santa Barbara's only cat cafe, where visitors socialize with adoptable rescue cats in a cage-free lounge.

    0.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Eat & Drink
    Local Gem

    Rusty's Pizza

    Under $25

    Family owned Santa Barbara pizza parlor making handmade pizza since 1969.

    0.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Eat & Drink

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Reagan Ranch Center

    Free

    A free museum in downtown Santa Barbara with artifacts and exhibits on Ronald Reagan's life and presidency.

    0.6 mi awayMore like this

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Santa Barbara Maritime Museum

    Under $25

    Harborside museum on Santa Barbara's maritime history with interactive exhibits and a theater.

    1.2 mi awayMore like this

  • Museums
    Family Favorite

    Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

    Under $25

    Natural history museum on a wooded Santa Barbara campus with fossils, wildlife, Chumash culture and a planetarium.

    1.7 mi awayMore like this