Presidio of Santa Barbara
El Presidio Real de Santa Bárbara, also known as the Royal Presidio of Santa Barbara, is a former military installation in Santa Barbara, California, United States. The presidio was built by Spain in 1782, with the mission of defending the Second Military District in California. In modern times, the Presidio serves as a significant tourist attraction, museum and an active archaeological site as part of El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park.
A view of the main restored portion of the Presidio in 2005, with the chapel in the center
Drawing of the presidio of early Santa Barbara, ca.1839
El Cuartel (The Barracks) is the oldest building in Santa Barbara
Interior of the reconstructed chapel.
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is a coastal city in Santa Barbara County, California, of which it is also the county seat. Situated on a south-facing section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States excepting Alaska, the city lies between the steeply rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Santa Barbara's climate is often described as Mediterranean, and the city has been dubbed "The American Riviera". According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the city's population was 88,665.
Image: Mission Santa Barbara Flickr brewbooks (cropped)
Image: Santa Barbara Downtown (may 2012) (2) (cropped)
Image: Aerial Santa Barbara CA10 28 08 (cropped)
Image: SB Presidio
