Along the breathtaking California Pacific shores, with views of the Santa Ynez Mountains, awaits charming Santa Barbara, California. With its Spanish architecture, red-tiled roofs, arched facades, garden courtyards, rich history, boutique shops, gourmet restaurants, abundant farmer’s market and small town feel, this upscale beachside city is guaranteed to please.
Santa Barbara’s rich history dates as far back as 13,000 years when the Chumash Indians settled along the Pacific coast. This expressive tribe painted the walls of caves with mysterious drawings and traveled from island to island for trade in plank canoes and tomols. In 1780 Christian pilgrims arrived and the famous Mission Period in Santa Barbara began. A short time thereafter the Spanish took control of California, and later it became Mexican territory. Then in 1846 with the help of Colonel John Fremont, Santa Barbara became part of the United States.
Men and families originally arrived in this seaside city in search of gold, but soon found that the land and weather were conducive to agriculture and cattle ranching. After the civil war, shipping took hold and Santa Barbara became a flourishing port city. The introduction of the railroad in 1877 further spurred the economic growth of the city.
In the early 1900s, Santa Barbara was the film capital of the world with more than 1,200 movies made in the city in a 10-year span. Santa Barbara was a favorite location for legendary film stars such as Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin. The 1925 California earthquake shook Santa Barbara and the downtown business district was devastated. Fortunately most of the original Spanish architecture held strong and the city was later rebuilt, staying true to its Spanish-Moorish design. Today, Santa Barbara is a romantic and fun getaway for all to enjoy.
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