Santa Barbara County Courthouse

Santa Barbara County Courthouse is located in historic Santa Barbara, California. The courthouse has stood for 160 years as a place for local government. It is also celebrated for its civic pride. Visitors around the world come to see the courthouse, grounds and the mural room. Hundreds of visitors even get married in the mural room each year. In 1926 the County Board of Supervisors asked for a courthouse to be constructed, finding the money for the building in the city funds. A year before the courthouse was constructed a much smaller building with Greek revival architecture was damaged due to an earthquake.

The new building was dedicated with a ceremony in 1929. The Native Sons of the Golden West offered a bronze medallion at the dedication ceremony, which can be seen by those touring the building. The courthouse is 150,000 square feet with a full basement. The basement contains the mechanical equipment necessary to run the electric, heaters, and keep the grounds maintained. Parking and storage are also part of the grounds. The original construction had a jail wing, though it is no longer used. It is possible to see the jail and all seven floors on a tour.