10 BEST Attractions at Santa Barbara Courthouse

free admission

One of my favorite buildings in Santa Barbara is the striking Santa Barbara Courthouse.

This stunning landmark is built in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, and is surrounded by lush landscaping. I really enjoyed the tour of this building, and especially the incredible views from its tower.

I also learned that it's recognized as America's most beautiful government building, and is still a fully functioning courthouse. It was completed in 1929 after the Santa Barbara earthquake destroyed the earlier courthouse.

The Santa Barbara Courthouse is FREE to visit, and is located at 1100 Anacapa Street in downtown Santa Barbara.

10 best attractions at Santa Barbara Courthouse

1. Sign up for a free docent tour of the Santa Barbara Courthouse.

The best way to learn about the Santa Barbara Courthouse is through a free, guided tour. The tour lasts about an hour, and starts at the Mural Room on the second floor.

2. Climb the spanish-tiled stairs to the Mural Room.

My favorite part of the Santa Barbara Courthouse is the magnificent Mural Room. The recently restored murals are breathtaking, depicting key points in Santa Barbara’s history. These murals are painted on canvas, and stretch the full size of each wall.

If you look straight ahead, you can see a mural of the US control of the Spanish Territory during the Spanish American war (1898). The mural on the left depicts the arrival of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo (1542), and expedition of Spanish explorer Sebastian Vizcaino (1602) who mapped sections of the California coastline like San Diego and Monterey. On the right side of the room you can see the coat of arms from Spain and Mexico, the Order of St Francis, and the California Bear Flag.

Look up at the ornate ceiling painted in gold leaf with dutch metal. There's also a stunning chandelier, heavy oak and walnut furniture, and the towering drapes. This has to be the most striking courtroom in America! Everything in the room is in original condition, except for the vinyl on the benches.

The Mural Room is also available for weddings, but needs to be booked 12 months in advance.

3. Take the elevator to the 85-foot Observation Deck for soaring views.

I loved the incredible views from the 85-foot Observation Deck at the Santa Barbara Courthouse. I took in 360 degree views, and gazed out across Santa Barbara to the Pacific Ocean, and then back to the majestic Santa Ynez Mountains. There were interpretive signs also pointing out major landmarks.

4. Book a Clock Tower Tour, to see the internal workings of the Bisno Schall Clock Gallery.

I booked a tour of the Bisno Schall Clock Gallery, to get an up-close look of the workings of this 1929 clock. It was an amazing sensation listening to the bells chiming each hour in this gallery. The clock was restored after it stopped working in Easter 2010, and taken out of a storage room to be put on full public display.

A beautiful mural was also painted in this gallery in 2010, depicting the history of time-keeping. I then looked up at the ceiling, fascinated by the starry constellation that shows the exact date in 1602 when Santa Barbara was named.

5. Admire the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture.

I recommend wandering the stairways and hallways to take a closer look at the incredible Spanish Colonial Revival architecture at the Santa Barbara Courthouse. There are so many beautiful details, like the thick wooden doors, graceful archways, geometric floor tiles, and metal lanterns. The stunning Santa Barbara Courthouse has been a National Historic Landmark since 2005.

These are the beautiful Spanish style lanterns, with intricate metal work. They are based on traditional Spanish ship lanterns, that were often gifted to churches after a long journey to what is now America.

This incredible portico leads to the sunken garden at the Santa Barbara Courthouse. I loved the sandstone archway that beautifully framed the garden.

6. Explore the Sunken Garden.

Another highlight of the Santa Barbara Courthouse is the gorgeous, Sunken Garden with a huge lawned area and the the Anacapa Archway in the background. I noticed a few weddings taking place here during my visit, so assume this is open for reservations. Bring along a picnic basket and enjoy these gorgeous lawns!

There are equally beautiful but smaller gardens surrounding the Sunken Garden, including the Giant Bird of Paradise garden, secluded Fiesta Stage, Rotunda Lawn, and Palm Terrace. These historic gardens were completed in 1929.

Can you see the sandstone fence on the left? These stones were part of the original 1872 Courthouse which was a stunning Greek Revival building. Unfortunately the 1872 Courthouse was damaged in the 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake, and demolished a year later. The new Santa Barbara Courthouse was then constructed between 1926 to 1929 for $1,368,000.

7. Attend a summer festival at the Santa Barbara Courthouse.

Enjoy live music and activities at the Santa Barbara Courthouse for the Old Spanish Days Fiesta in early August. There's also a calendar of movies throughout July and August in the gorgeous Sunken Garden. Bring a blanket and savor the balmy weather!

8. Read the beautiful inscription across the archway.

It says "God gave us the country, the skill of man hath built the town" and is a quote from Ancient Roman scholar Marcus Terentius Varro.

9. Visit this functioning courthouse.

It's hard to believe that this stunning piece of architecture is actually a functioning courthouse. Cases are heard here at the Anacapa Division of the Superior Court of California. If you wander the hallways, you will find six different courtrooms handling a range of matters including family law and criminal law. It's amazing to think that cases have been heard here for nearly 100 years, since 1929.