Santa Barbara Historical Museum

So just how did Santa Barbara become America's Riviera? At the Santa Barbara Historical Museum you can learn about and celebrate the history of the Santa Barbara community, from the first Chumash inhabitants, to right through to modern day.

The museum, located in the heart of historic downtown, features a number of vibrant exhibitions that explore the glamorous film era, the legendary Fiesta festival, and even pioneering aviators who changed the world (and we have just touched on the 20th century!)

The Story of Santa Barbara exhibit is the museum's signature exhibit, which showcases the overarching history of the region, and the people that have made it what it is today.

The Native American Civilizations exhibit explores the Chumash more in depth, and their estimated 10,000 year history on these lands. Kids can learn how they formed villages, with a chief at the head of the community.

Learn about the first Europeans to settle in the area - the Spanish back in 1782, and discover how Santa Barbara developed the most important art colony in the area!

Of course, the glitz and glamour of the film industry was found in Santa Barbara too! Did you know that Santa Barbara was the center of the film industry before Hollywood, when the American Film Manufacturing Company opened the largest production facility in the country!

With such a fascinatingly rich history, it's no wonder that the history of Santa Barbara has a museum dedicated to just that!