SBTHP Celebrates Chinese New Year with Santa Barbara Public Library

By Kevin McGarry

To celebrate Chinese New Year and Santa Barbara’s Chinese-American community, the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation’s (SBTHP) is displaying a temporary photo exhibit highlighting the history of Santa Barbara’s Chinatown inside the Santa Barbara Public Library (SBPL) entrance foyer. Up for the month of February, the large shadow box display offers daily library patrons a glimpse into the lesser-known history of the Chinese families that resided in Santa Barbara’s Presidio Neighborhood starting in the 1860s.

Lastly, our display at the library also highlights our upcoming docent training program that will begin on March 14 and go through mid-May. The training will be held every Thursday from 9:30 AM to Noon at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park, and the course is a great opportunity for those interested in learning and teaching about local history.

Kevin McGarry is the Associate Director for Public Engagement at the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation