Santa Barbara County Courthouse

The Santa Barbara County Courthouse is a Spanish-Moorish building in the style of a palace, completed after the large earthquake of 1929. The tiles lining the staircase are mainly from Tunisia, while those used on the arches are of Californian origin. The entrance hall on the first floor is a strange mixture of styles; the tiles and a passage way to the loggia are Islamic, the pink window is Romanesque and the archway decorated with angels is Byzantine.

The County Supervisor's conference hall is entered through a double door; its murals illustrate the history of the county, beginning with the Indians watching the arrival of the first Europeans led by Cabrillo.
For a good view out over the city towards the ocean, a trip up to the top of the El Mirador bell tower is in order. Located throughout the courthouse are numerous paintings by noted artists Allan Gilbert Cram, Van Cina. In the mural room visitors will find an original Grosbeck. The courthouse and the grounds are popular places for weddings and you may be lucky enough to come across one.