Night scene of an outdoor event with people gathered under red lanterns, a projection of a historical photo of a young man on a white building, and a screen displaying a woman's face.

About SBTHP

Performers in traditional Chinese lion dance costumes, with one in a colorful lion mask and another holding a mask in a courtyard with a white building in the background.
Seal of the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation featuring an orange star-like design surrounded by the organization's name.

The Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation (SBTHP) is a nonprofit organization that stewards historic places in Santa Barbara, preserving unique structures and also sharing the layered histories and cultural traditions that give them meaning.

SBTHP supports the historic core of downtown through its operation of El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park for California State Parks, ownership of Casa de la Guerra as a historic house museum and stewardship of the surrounding nine-block Presidio Neighborhood with marketing and events that bring awareness to these special places. 

The organization activates historic spaces through public festivals, school and youth programs, film screenings, and collaborative events that invite the community to gather, reflect, and celebrate the stories that shape us. Through this work, we bridge memory with action—supporting a shared sense of belonging that is vital to Santa Barbara’s civic life.

Our Mission

DEDICATED TO STEWARDING THE PAST AND PRESENT OF THE PRESIDIO NEIGHBORHOOD AND INSPIRING PRESERVATION ADVOCACY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY IN ORDER TO CREATE A MORE VIBRANT COMMUNITY.

Our Values

A woman wearing a floral dress and a white headpiece with spikes, standing outside near a white church with bell towers and a cross, under a sunny blue sky.

The Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation:

  1. Preserves and stewards the historic resources entrusted in its care at the highest ethical standards.

  2. Promotes the diversity of cultures that comprise(d) the Presidio Neighborhood.

  3. Believes that the knowledge and practice of history is vital to sustain healthy individuals, communities, and the nation.

  4. Provides a welcoming and accessible gathering place for Santa Barbarans and all who visit our community.

  5. Activates the power of places of memory to engage the public with a deeper understanding of the past and inspire action to shape a better future.

  6. Values and celebrates cooperation, partnership, equity, inclusivity, and diversity.

Our Goals

GOAL 1:

Prioritize care of and enhancements to the physical plant and historical resources for all types of site users​


GOAL 3:

Create a vibrant sense of place and history through an improved visitor experience.

GOAL 2:

Elevate awareness of SBTHP’s and its work, including the Presidio Neighborhood as a destination


GOAL 4:

Align organizational resources during an uncertain time, and with necessary flexibility, to  most effectively achieve SBTHP's mission

Seal of the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation featuring a green stylized plant or leaf design in the center with the organization's name around the perimeter.

Ready to Join Us?

Become a member today and take part in deepening the legacy of Santa Barbara through place, story, and community.