Santa Barbara Civil Service Commission

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 by an earthquake in 1925), this courthouse is not only a city of Santa Barbara Landmark, but is also a California State Historic Landmark and in 2005 became a National Historic Landmark. It's no wonder that visitors from around the world visit this unique attraction.Best and worst time to visit the Santa Barbara CourthouseWeekdays are less congested than weekends. If you want to explore the Santa Barbara courthouse and gardens on your own with fewer visitors, arrive when the courthouse opens, weekdays at 8:00 a.m. However to get the most bang (and information) from your visit, arrive in time for the Docent led tours that run about 55 minutes, weekdays, Monday through Friday at 10:30 a.m. If you can't make that time, there is also a daily tour at 2:00 p.m. (including weekends).Must See/Do at the Santa Barbara CourthouseA must-see for the Santa Barbara Courthouse is the stunning, newly restored mural room. Four murals depict the history of Santa Barbara by artist Daniel Sayre Groesbeck. Don't forget to look up and also view the mural on the ceiling by Italian artist Giovanni Battista Smeraldi. Also take the stairs (or elevator) up the 85-foot "El Mirador" clock tower to the observation deck. Walking up you'll witness the inner mechanism of the clock and bells against a thematic clock mural. At the top of the tower, head out to the observation deck for 360-degree views of the city of Santa Barbara and the surrounding mountains and sea. Selfies are a must.Admission to the Santa Barbara CourthouseAdmission to the Santa Barbara Courthouse is free, but a donation is suggested. The Santa Barbara Courthouse is open daily (except for Christmas Day). Monday through Friday, hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. When entering the courthouse off of Anacapa Street, be sure to check out the information desk in the lobby for event schedules and courthouse information.How to get to the Santa Barbara CourthouseThe Santa Barbara Courthouse is located at 1100 Anacapa Street between E. Anapamu Street and East Figueroa Street. There is a nearby paid parking structure adjacent to the Santa Barbara Public Library (Library Garage/Lot 7 at 1125 Anacapa Street). There is also metered street parking, but parking limits and costs vary, so read parking enforcement signs carefully. For public transportation, Santa Barbara MTD Bus Line Number 2 makes stops around the courthouse.Food at the Santa Barbara CourthouseThere is no food inside the Santa Barbara Courthouse however there are dozens of restaurants within a short walk. Some top choices are Jeannine's American Bakery Restaurant (15 Figueroa Street) and Andersen's Danish Bakery & Restaurant (1106 State Street), both of which are open for breakfast or lunch. You can also order take-out and enjoy a picnic in the Courthouse's Sunken Gardens.Insider tips for visitors to the Santa Barbara CourthouseIf visiting the Santa Barbara Courthouse during the summer months, check the schedule of events, which might include a public speaker, concert, or even a wedding in the Sunken Garden grounds. Only one block away on State Street, check out the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.Author's bio: Lori Huck works in television development as well as writes on entertainment, travel and the arts. She's a fan of the vibrant arts scene in Los Angeles and is a member of many film, television, and arts organizations.

Operational for more than 30 years, the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, also known as APCD, is an independent government agency that works to protect people and the environment of Santa Barbara County in California from harmful effects of air pollution. It serves the citizens of Buellton, Carpinteria, Goleta, Guadalupe, Lompoc, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria and Solvang. The agency undertakes several projects related to energy, land use, air pollution, smoking vehicles and fires. The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District administers the Green Business Program. The agency also organizes the Air Toxics Program. It has a network of over 15 monitoring stations that are portable structures containing electronic instruments used to measure and record the concentration of various air pollutants, as well as record weather conditions, such as temperature and wind speed and direction. The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District also initiates Santa Barbara Car Free, which is a cooperative partnership of nearly 100 local businesses, organizations, agencies and individuals that encourages car free transportation for cleaner air.

The Department of Social Services, managed by the government of Santa Barbara, Calif., assists the residents in becoming productive and self-sufficient contributors to the well-being of the community. It offers foster care, adult protection, food assistance and in-home supportive services. The Department of Social Services also provides child welfare services that assess and investigate allegations of child abuse and neglect; offer court-ordered services to families to ensure children safety in homes; and arrange for new homes for children. Its adult services division responds to reports of neglect or abuse of older and disabled adults. The department s in-home supportive services program provides assistance to low-income and visually-impaired people. The Department of Social Services additionally operates a general relief program that offers short-term loans to people without children.