CASA DE LA GUERRA
In the heart of Santa Barbara downtown, Casa de la Guerra shares the story of a family that helped shape early California.
Chumash laborers built Casa de la Guerra between 1818 and 1828 for José de la Guerra, his wife Maria Antonia Carrillo, and their twelve children. As comandante of the Presidio and a prominent landowner and trader, José de la Guerra and his family played central roles in Santa Barbara’s civic, economic, and cultural life. This adobe residence was home to the influential de la Guerra family for three generations.
The Casa was a hub of celebration and ceremony. The family hosted weddings, festivals, dignitaries, and travelers from around the world, and the Casa continues to serve as the site of community celebrations today. Its walls bear witness to complex histories, from Indigenous labor and mission-era commerce to the rise and decline of Californio wealth and influence.
Today, we invite visitors to step into that layered past and explore the enduring legacy of the de la Guerra family and the many people who built and sustained life here.
Open Thursday through Sunday, from 12 to 4 p.m.
FINE PRINT, HARD LINES:
Housing and Exclusion in Santa Barbara
About the Exhibit
SBTHP’s new exhibit, Fine Print, Hard Lines: Housing & Exclusion in Santa Barbara, explores the role that discriminatory housing policies and practices, such as the use of “fine print” restrictive covenants, played in shaping the Santa Barbara we experience today.
Featuring a mix of historical sources, including property records, real estate ads, newspaper articles, and maps, Fine Print, Hard Lines reveals how discriminatory restrictions left lasting social inequities and barriers that continue to affect the lived experiences of Santa Barbara residents. The exhibit also provides information about the County-Clerk Recorder’s Office’s current efforts to identify and redact restrictive covenants in Santa Barbara County area housing deeds and titles.
SBTHP recently received a grant from the state aimed at preventing hate crimes. This program, administered by the California Department of Social Services in partnership with the Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs, is part of ongoing efforts in California to provide direct support for communities impacted by hate incidents and support victims.
Museum Information
Location:
15 East De la Guerra Street
Santa Barbara, California
Hours: Open Thursday through Sunday, from 12 to 4 p.m.
Parking:
Hourly parking is available nearby in a public parking lot at 115 E. Canon Perdido Street. The lot is operated by Santa Barbara Valet, Inc. through the paybyphone.com app.
Admission:
$5 for adults, $4 for seniors (62+), Free for SBTHP members, SNAP/EBT and CalFresh cards, and children 16 & under. Includes admission to El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park.
Tours: To arrange a guided tour or for more information contact SBTHP at (805) 965-0093.
Before You Visit: View the Casa de la Guerra brochure.
Visiting Casa de la Guerra
Your visit to Casa de la Guerra includes a rich, atmospheric experience of a family home in nineteenth-century Santa Barbara.
You will be invited to explore furnished rooms, including an office, sala (living room), bedroom, and store, which appear as though the family has just stepped away. An orientation area prepares you with information about the de la Guerra family, the mostly Chumash servants who worked there, and the changing appearance of the house over three generations. Our knowledgeable staff is there to support your visit and answer your questions
Architectural History • Social History
Exhibits at Casa de la Guerra
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![Image of 19th century desktop scene with papers, readers, an ink and quill set, and a candle.]()
Experience Casa de la Guerra
Your visit to Casa de la Guerra includes a rich, atmospheric experience of a family home in nineteenth-century Santa Barbara. You will be invited to explore furnished rooms, including an office, sala (living room), bedroom, and store, which appear as though the family has just stepped away.
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![1945 map of Santa Barbara]()
Santa Barbara 1925 – 2025: A Portrait in Maps
Using maps from historical archives and contemporary City and County documents, this exhibition tells the story of Santa Barbara’s development since the earthquake. These maps reveal dramatic changes in downtown Santa Barbara, for example, the creation of the harbor breakwater, and the construction of the 101 freeway. They also illustrate what has remained constant over the past 100 years: Santa Barbara’s identity as a special place set between the ocean and the mountains, blessed with a beautiful climate and a rich history. Maps remind us that the natural environment, like the urban environment, has a history and document the changing natural as well urban environment of Santa Barbara. The 100th anniversary of the earthquake offers a unique opportunity for Santa Barbara to learn from our past, reflect upon our present, and plan for our future.
This exhibit is part of a larger community-wide commemoration of the 1925 earthquake that shook Santa Barbara awake early on the morning of June 29, 1925.
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FINE PRINT, HARD LINES: Housing and Exclusion in Santa Barbara
On display starting May 7, 2026
SBTHP’s new exhibit, Fine Print, Hard Lines: Housing and Exclusion in Santa Barbara, explores the role that discriminatory housing policies and practices, such as the use of “fine print” restrictive covenants, played in shaping the Santa Barbara we experience today.Featuring a mix of historical sources, including property records, real estate ads, newspaper articles, and maps, Fine Print, Hard Lines reveals how discriminatory restrictions left lasting social inequities and barriers that continue to affect the lived experiences of Santa Barbara residents. The exhibit also provides information about the County-Clerk Recorder’s Office’s current efforts to identify and redact restrictive covenants in Santa Barbara County area housing deeds and titles.
Fine Print, Hard Lines is on display at Casa de la Guerra (15 E. De La Guerra St.) during regular museum hours: Thursday – Sunday, 12-4pm
SBTHP recently received a grant from the state aimed at preventing hate crimes. This program, administered by the California Department of Social Services in partnership with the Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs, is part of ongoing efforts in California to provide direct support for communities impacted by hate incidents and support victims. ription goes here
Host Your Event in a Place Steeped in History
We offer five unique historic venues where beauty, culture, and community come together. Whether it’s a wedding under the stars, an intimate dinner, or a meaningful gathering, your event not only honors the past — it helps preserve it.