1st Thursday at the Casa de la Guerra - TONIGHT!

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Casa de la Guerra by Fridolin Haass

Enjoy wine and appetizers in one of Santa Barbara's most historic settings as the Trust presents the return of the "Haass Adobe Watercolors," a collection of 1950s watercolors of historic Santa Barbara Adobes by artist Fridolin Haass.

Not to be missed, "Bridges of Santa Barbara County: Spans Across Time" will also be on display.

In addition, there will be a special holiday performance by the Santa Barbara REVELS. This year's Santa Barbara REVELS performance will celebrate Christmas and Winter Solstice with a fully staged and costumed production featuring the music, dance, drama and ritual of the Medieval/Renaissance period.

Thursday, December 6
5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Casa de la Guerra
15 E. De la Guerra St, Santa Barbara
Free admission
Refreshments served
Trust members receive complimentary wine
For more information (805) 965-0093

17th Annual Una Noche de Las Posadas

Las Posadas (The Inns) is the time-honored reenactment of Joseph and Mary's search for lodging in Bethlehem as it was once celebrated in early California. Join us in this rich cultural tradition, experiencing first-hand the way in which Santa Barbara’s Spanish and Mexican residents celebrated Christmas in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

The evening will begin with the singing of traditional Spanish songs in the historic Presidio chapel led by El Coro del Real Presidio de Santa Barbara. Attendees then have a chance to join the choir in a procession led by a young Joseph and Mary and their burro, Wilson, strolling and singing over to State Street, through the Paseo Nuevo shopping mall and into De la Guerra Plaza. The procession will end at Casa de la Guerra as Joseph and Mary finally find lodging, and guests enjoy more singing, traditional refreshments, hot cocoa, and a piñata for the children.

Saturday, December 15
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Begins at El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park
123 East Canon Perdido Street, Santa Barbara

Ends at Casa de la Guerra Historic House Museum
15 East De la Guerra Street, Santa Barbara

Free Event
For more information (805) 965-0093
Made possible through generous support from The Towbes Foundation and Williams-Corbett Foundation

Be a Part of the 225th Celebration!

There's still time to recognize the 225th anniversary of the founding of El Presidio de Santa Barbara by giving to the Trust's annual year end appeal. Your gift will help sustain the Trust’s efforts to honor the continuum of Santa Barbara’s history and the many cultures that helped create our exceptional community, as well as inspire and inform a broad audience through our restoration projects, exhibits, living history demonstrations, public events and lectures, and public school programs. There is no better time than the present to join us in celebrating our extraordinary past.

To contribute to this important campaign please donate safely on-line, download and mail or fax your completed gift form, or call us at 805-965-0093 for personal assistance with your gift.

Work to Begin Soon on the 3rd Phase of the Presidio Northwest Corner Project

Colored area shows the Presidio Northwest Corner Project when completed

The Northwest Corner Project at El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park consists of the multi-phased development of the northwest corner of the Presidio quadrangle. Phase I, the construction of four new A.D.A. compliant unisex restrooms available to park visitors, was completed in 2005. Phase II, including the construction of a new two-room adobe Visitors' Center and a new A.D.A. compliant access ramp at the park's Canon Perdido street entrance was completed in June 2006. Phase III, the third component of the Northwest Corner project is the reconstruction of two additional adobe rooms. These two rooms were originally added to the end of the west wing of the Presidio sometime before 1797. The Trust is happy to announce that this next phase of construction is scheduled to begin in early December. Be sure to stop by and check on our progress!

Santa Barbara REVELS at the Casa de la Guerra
Co-sponsored by the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation

Don't miss the Santa Barbara REVELS at the Casa de la Guerra! Join the REVELS as they celebrate Christmas and Winter Solstice with a fully staged and costumed production featuring the music, dance, drama and ritual of the Medieval/Renaissance period.

Revels began in Cambridge, Massachusetts over 37 years ago, and Santa Barbara's is the tenth company of Revels nationwide. All companies incorporate professional and volunteer singers, dancers, and musicians in inter-generational, non-denominational, and multi-ethnic performances that commemorate the changing of seasons.

This year's production features the Quire of Voyces, the Revels Children's Chorus, the Revels Morris Men and Brass Quintet, and the James Michael Consort. Maggie Mixsell is the Stage Director for Revels and Susan Keller the Founder/Producer, with musical direction by Nathan Kreitzer and children's choral direction by Pam McLendon. 

Sunday, December 9
12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Casa de la Guerra
15 E. De la Guerra St, Santa Barbara
Adults $10
Children over three $5
For more information (805) 965-0093

Winter Docent Training and Review for New and Veteran Docents continues

Trust Staff and Docents tour the Goleta Valley Historical Society (Stow House and Sexton Museum) in November, 2007

Have you ever wanted to learn more about Santa Barbara and Early California history? Well this is the opportunity you've been waiting for! The Trust's Education Department is proud to announce the Winter 2007 Docent Training and Review. This 5-part lecture/tour series is for both new and veteran docents and features a variety of guest speakers and special presentations. The 2007 schedule includes:

Friday, December 7 - 10 a.m. to Noon
Presentation by Louise Pubols, Historian at the Autry National Center, on the De la Guerra Family and their Casa.

Wednesday, January 9 - 9 a.m. to Noon
Overview of the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation and special invitation by the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. Presentation by Jan Timbrook, Curator of Ethnography at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, on the Chumash.

Wednesday, January 16 - 9 a.m. to Noon
Overview of the Santa Barbara Presidio, tour of the Presidio and presentation by California Department of Parks and Recreation Interpretive Specialist, Wes Chapin.

Wednesday, January 30 - 10 a.m. to Noon
Tour of the Casa de la Guerra by Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation staff.

Wednesday, February 6, - 10 a.m. to Noon
Presentation by Michael Hardwick on the History of the Spanish and Mexican Soldados in California and at the Santa Barbara Presidio. Talks by Ann Boggess (DPR) and SBTHP Docents on interpretation.

To sign-up, or for more information: Please contact Karen Anderson, Director of Education, Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation at (805) 962-9504 or E-mail.

Give the Gift of Membership this Holiday Season

Looking for a unique gift? Give the gift that keeps on giving all year long. A membership with the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation is a great gift for any occasion. Filled with history, creativity, and entertainment, membership is a gift of exciting exhibitions and events that friends and family can enjoy all year long. Gift memberships can be purchased at the Museum, by calling our Membership Department at 805-966-1279, or by emailing Membership Manager, Jared Brach.

This email was sent to you as a benefit of your membership or affiliation with the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation. To be removed from this list, or to let us know you'd prefer a paper version of this newsletter, just reply to this message. To make a contribution or join the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation, visit the Development website.