Get To Know The Presidio: Santa Barbara Historical Museum with Dacia Harwood
Welcome to Get to Know The Presidio, a series sharing the behind-the-scenes of some of our beloved Presidio Neighborhood businesses and organizations. For our first blog edition, we're learning from Dacia Hardwood, Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, about the museum's history, programs, and the many ways it serves the community as both a cultural resource and gathering space.
Tell us a little about yourself and your role.
I'm Dacia Harwood, Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. It is my privilege to lead an organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories that have shaped Santa Barbara for more than a century.
Where is the Santa Barbara Historical Museum located?
The Santa Barbara Historical Museum is in the heart of downtown at 136 East De la Guerra Street, at the corner of Santa Barbara Street, on a beautiful campus with two historic adobes just a block from El Presidio. Our mission is to inspire meaningful connections to Santa Barbara history.
What is the museum known for?
I would say we're known for sharing Santa Barbara's rich and diverse history. We strive to provide engaging exhibitions, public programs, and accessible cultural experiences that connect our community with its past.
The museum is also recognized as a gathering place for weddings, private events, festivals, and fundraisers.
Can you share a little bit about the history of the museum?
Founded in 1932, the Santa Barbara Historical Museum has served the community for more than 90 years. Our downtown campus includes the museum and two historic adobes dating to California's Spanish and Mexican periods. Admission to the museum is always free.
What's something people might not know about the museum?
Many people don't realize we have an onsite research center, the Gledhill Library, which is an incredible resource for local history. Most recently, the museum acquired the Santa Barbara News-Press archive, including approximately one million historic photographs and more than a century of newspapers—one of the most significant local history collections in California.
Our work continues as we process this extraordinary archive, and I'm proud to say we've already digitized and made several additional decades of newspapers available online through Newspapers.com.
Since acquiring the collection, we've shared thousands of photographs through exhibitions and social media. I encourage readers to follow us—the collection is incredibly diverse and includes every topic imaginable, from international events to high school sports. You may even spot yourself or someone you know!
What makes the museum unique?
History isn't just displayed here—it's experienced. Our campus is both a museum and a living gathering place that reflects the people, traditions, and stories of Santa Barbara.
We love collaboration and believe strongly in creating accessible opportunities for people to experience local history in meaningful ways. In addition to our exhibitions on campus, we curate satellite exhibits at the Santa Barbara Airport, the Hill-Carrillo Adobe, and Cottage Hospital, bringing Santa Barbara's history into everyday spaces throughout the community.
Are there any special exhibits or experiences you’d like to highlight?
During Old Spanish Days Fiesta, the museum presents our annual Project Fiesta exhibitions and programs. This year we're featuring Arte de los Mantónes, showcasing our remarkable collection of Spanish shawls, and Finding Saint Barbara, which explores our city's patron saint and commemorates one hundred years of her presence in Fiesta celebrations.
Throughout the year, we also offer a busy calendar of public programs, including lectures, walking tours, family activities, and special events.
What's new or exciting at the museum right now?
We're expanding our public programming and collaborations with local arts and cultural organizations, making the museum more active and accessible than ever.
Our concert series, Concierto Intimo is really taking off. We’ve shared a variety of music including Jazz, Spanish guitar, Greek, Moroccan and early California. One of my favorite examples is our partnership with Flamenco! Santa Barbara, which transforms our Spanish-era Covarrubias Adobe into a monthly flamenco tablao. It's a truly magical experience for audiences and a wonderful example of history serving as a stage for living culture.
On September 10, 2026, we’ll host Maria Bermudez’ show, “Convivencias” featuring 13 artists from Spain and the US, for a flamenco show under the stars.
How can readers support or experience the museum?
We invite everyone to visit the museum, explore our exhibitions, attend an event, and become a member. Whether you're a lifelong resident or visiting Santa Barbara for the first time, there's always something new to discover, and every visit helps preserve and share the stories that make our community so special.