Rendering of the completed Northwest Corner Project

The Northwest Corner Reconstruction Project at
El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park consists of the multi-phased development of the northwest corner of the Presidio quadrangle. When complete, this project will allow visitors to experience an entire wing of the Presidio, from corner to corner, creating a sense of the size and scale of the original adobe fort marking Santa Barbara's birthplace.

Phase I, the construction of four new A.D.A. compliant unisex restrooms for park visitors was completed in 2005. UPDATE: Phase 1 Complete

The second component, Phase II, includes the construction of a new two-room adobe Visitors' Center and an A.D.A. compliant access ramp at the park's Canon Perdido street entrance. This phase was completed in June 2006. The new Visitors' Center will allow SBTHP to develop additional museum space for the interpretation of the Native American, Spanish, Mexican, American, Chinese, and Japanese communities in Santa Barbara. Multimedia displays, artifacts, maps, and photographs attributed to each of these Presidio neighborhood groups will help convey the rich cultural diversity represented over the past two centuries. It will also be used for demonstrations, performances and workshops on the Presidio's history, while the new ramp and Visitors' Center offer increased access by the community, in keeping with SBTHP's commitment to community outreach. UPDATE: Phase II Completed!

Northwest Corner Project Phasing Plan

Phase III, the third component of the Northwest Corner project is the reconstruction of two additional adobe rooms. These two adobe rooms were originally added to the end of the west wing of the Presidio sometime before 1797. In 2008 SBTHP won the Santa Barbara Contractors Association's Green Building Award for the reconstruction of these two rooms. Making hand-formed adobe bricks with recycled earth from the original Presidio buildings; harvesting local giant cane for roof sheathing; finishing doors and beams with iron oxide stain made from Presidio soil; building thick, energy-conserving walls—earthen architecture in its various forms is seen today as an environmentally sensitive, commonsense approach to building. UPDATE: Phase III Completed!

Phase IV, the final phase of the Northwest Corner reconstruction, will include the associated adobe yard walls, and portions of the western and northern defense walls enclosing this corner of the Presidio quadrangle, as well as stonework on Canon Perdido street marking the original foundation of the Presidio. UPDATE: Work is now underway, but we still need your help! Learn more.

How You Can Help

Join the Buy-A-Brick Campaign and help rebuild Santa Barbara's birthplace! Please join us in completing the Northwest Corner Campaign by making a tax-deductible gift today. Your support is greatly appreciated, and is vital to SBTHP's commitment to preserve Santa Barbara's uniqueness by recapturing its past, and establishing the Presidio as one of its crown jewels. We invite you to stop by the Presidio and take a look at our progress on the Presidio Northwest Corner.

To make an online donation to the Northwest Corner Reconstruction Campaign click on the button below. You can use your Visa, MC, or PayPal account to donate money today.*

If you prefer, you can download and print a donation form. Please fax or mail this form, with a check, money order, or credit card information to: Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation 123 East Canon Perdido Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101-2215 (805) 965-0093 | FAX (805) 568-1999 Fed Tax ID# 95-6111696

For questions regarding credit card payment, gifts of securities or pledging, call (805) 966-1279.

*All donations to the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation will be recognized if so desired. We will of course honor your wish to remain anonymous.