July 22, 2015, Santa Barbara- Like the Spokane County Courthouse and Tarrant County Building, in Fort Worth, Santa Barbara County Courthouse is the majestic centerpiece of its city’s downtown. There are several architectural gems in the central core of this breathtaking mission city. They are eclipsed by the hall of justice. The building is a reconstruction of the first Courthouse, which was destroyed by the 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake.
No detail, interior or exterior, goes unattended by the Courthouse’s housekeeper.
The Spirit of The Ocean Fountain was turned off, in keeping with the spirit of dealing with the drought.
Various miniature sculptures and filigree adorn all areas of the exterior.
Murals are found throughout the building, giving equal presence to the indigenous Chumash people and to the Spanish who settled among them.
Tapestries line the wall, outside the central Court Chamber.
In the former County Supervisors’ room, now called the Mural Room, lies a more elaborate series of murals, showing the Spanish subjugation of the Chumash and other parts of Santa Barbara history.
Here is the first floor lobby. Note the Moorish influence, in the ceiling design.
The Spanish also continued with Romanesque features, which appealed to the designers of the 1927 reconstructed Courthouse.
More Moorish influence appears in the ornate blue and gold ceiling.
,
This ceremonial planter is one of my favourites.
Finally, here is another section of Santa Barbara history, in the Mural Room.
Here are a couple of other random samples of Spanish influence, on the architecture of the early 20th Century American residents of Santa Barbara.
Despite its sprawling nature, Santa Barbara gave me a very comfortable, cozy feeling, as I walked about downtown. Two miles east, the “Old Mission” awaited.
We went to the new Bass Pro Shops here in town only to see a big water fall, stream and lake outside! It’s their thing, but, geez. Hopefully, they at least are using gray water. The rate of evaporation in this 90-100 degree weather must be great.
It is a big issue here, too. That’s one reason I take 5-minute showers, and turn the faucet off while shampooing and scrubbing. (TMI, I know-but a case in point.)
A majestic building for sure! I hope you got to the top of the clock tower too, with its views of the City. Next week will be Old Spanish Days, and the Courthouse will be filled with costumed musicians and Spanish music.
Yes, Fiesta is almost upon SB. I neglected to mention that the tower was still closed to the public, as the handicapped accessibility renovations were not quite complete. It will be open in time for Fiesta, the county says.
Sorry you missed the tower — it opened up one day last week, and the clock room has also been made more viewable!.
Thank goodness you put these photos and described them I have these photos taken, but had no idea what it about. We even went on a tour guide, and they took us around, explaining most of the building, but I wanted to see them and not write the details down. But overall, we had a wonderfu; time.
I have taken a journal with me on certain trips, and pick up brochures at the Information Desk. These aren’t always possible, when with a guide, though.