Santa Barbara Historical Museum

The Santa Barbara Historical Museum preserves and celebrates the region’s rich heritage in the heart of the city’s historic district. One of Santa Barbara’s oldest cultural institutions, it houses extensive archives in the Gledhill Library, hosts rotating exhibits in the Sala Gallery, and features the permanent “Story of Santa Barbara” display tracing local history from the Chumash era to the mid-20th century. Visitors can explore two early 1800s adobes, while admission is currently free for all, with members, students, and those under 18 always welcome at no cost.