El Presidio de
Santa Barbara State Historic Park is the site of the oldest building in
Santa Barbara and the second oldest in California. Visitors can step back and view the historic site surrounded by modern buildings. El Cuartel, the oldest existing building in Santa Barbara, is all that remains of the last of four Royal Presidios (Spanish military outposts) built in Alta California. The presidio in Santa Barbara was built in 1782. It served as the military and government headquarters between
Los Angeles and
San Luis Obispo until 1846. Handmade adobe blocks were used to reconstruct the Padres' Quarters and Presidio Chapel.
The park is located in downtown Santa Barbara between Anacapa and Santa Barbara streets.
