Courthouse Tours-Docent

As one of the top tourist attractions in Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara Courthouse is the home of local government, but it garners more acclaim for its picturesque Sunken Garden and lawns, Spanish tiled hallways, famed mural room, and glorious views from the clock tower. Designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style by William Mooser III and completed in 1929 (the earlier site was devastated...

Hand-painted tiles and a spiral staircase infuse the courthouse, a national historic landmark, with the grandeur of a Moorish palace. This magnificent building was completed in 1929. An elevator rises to an arched observation area in the tower that provides a panoramic view of the city. Before or after you take in the view, you can (if it's open) visit an engaging gallery devoted to the...

Built in 1929, this grand "palace" is considered the local flagship of Spanish colonial revival architecture (you undoubtedly saw its facade on TV during the Michael Jackson trial). It's certainly the most flamboyant example, with impressive facades, beamed ceilings, striking murals, an 85-foot-high observation clock tower, and formal sunken gardens. Free guided tours are offered on Monday,...