Casa de la Guerra

Visit an original Spanish Colonial home in the heart of Santa Barbara, at Casa de la Guerra. 

Casa de la Guerra was constructed in Santa Barbara in 1828, by Chumash servants. This u-shaped family home has a variety of rooms to explore, including the living room, bedroom, office and store. Everything was built around a central courtyard. 

The casa was owned by prominent trader Jose De La Guerra, and housed his wife and 13 children. It was considered unusually large compared to the one or two room adobes near it.

Jose De La Guerra was born in Spain in 1779, and is considered Santa Barbara's first citizen. In 1915 he became Comandante of the Presidio in Santa Barbara, and held this post through the 1940s. After his death in 1958, his body was interred beneath the altar at the Santa Barbara Mission. 

The De La Guerra family lived in the adobe for three generations, until Jose's granddaugher passed away here in 1943. Casa de la Guerra was then donated to the University of California and eventually became a museum in downtown Santa Barbara.

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5 best things to see at Casa de la Guerra

1. See the model of the original adobe and outbuildings from 1828.

After you've entered the main reception room at the Casa de la Guerra and paid your admission, you will notice a detailed model of the original adobe from 1828.

2. Explore the furnished rooms at Casa de la Guerra.

Stroll through the living room, study, and bedroom, and browse the rotating exhibitions at Casa de la Guerra. All the rooms are beautifully furnished.

The exhibitions are always changing, but this photo (above) shows an exhibition on the Mexican California rule in this region (1821 to 1848). This was when Mexico gained independence from Spain, and Alta California became part of Mexico. Casa de la Guerra was built during this period in 1828. 

Look at the 2 foot wide adobe walls covered in lime plaster, and the deeply recessed windows. The rooms at Casa de la Guerra had such thick walls, the rooms remained cool in summer, and warm in winter without a fireplace. You can also see the solid wood used for the doors and rafters. 

3. Find the painting of Maria Antonia de la Guerra.

Maria Antonia de la Guerra was Jose's daughter, and can be seen in this painting.

4. Walk through the store.

Jose de La Guerra was a prominent trader who owned lots of land, four ranches, and ships. He collaborated with the missions to sell their wares through this in-house store. 

After Jose died in 1858, much of his tremendous wealth and lands were lost by the next generation. Family members engaged in expensive lawsuits, and also encountered the devastating drought of the 1860s.

By 1922 the surrounding property was sold to a developer as part of the El Paseo complex. Family members retained the right to live in Casa de la Guerra, and rented out the rooms as a boarding house. The last descendant (Jose's granddaughter Delfina) lived in the house until 1943.

5. Participate in a community event in the courtyard.

During the 1800s, Jose de la Guerra's adobe was the civic center of life in Santa Barbara. His family hosted numerous weddings and festivals in the plaza, and all visiting dignitaries were hosted here. This tradition continues today, with regular community events still utilizing this space. You can even rent out this plaza for private events.