Waterfront History

The Spaniards who founded Santa Barbara in 1782 were soldiers and priests, not seafaring men.  Perhaps that is why no provision was made for a seaport.  The waterfront, extending 3.7 miles from Shoreline Park to the Bird Refuge, offers no natural headlands to create a safe anchorage.  Early-day mariners dreaded Santa Barbara's exposed roadstead so much they used to drop anchor a mile offshore, ready to slip their cables and head for the open sea if foul weather threatened. 

As recently as almost 80 years ago the ocean used to cover what today is the City College football field, dashing its surf against cliffs now paneled by La Playa Stadium.  Leadbetter beach did not exist.  But just around the corner east of Castle Rock (a long-vanished promontory) semi-sheltered West Beach became the traditional landing place for visitors.  It is thus overlaid with history covering two centuries.

 Santa Barbara Ty Warner Sea Center

The Ty Warner Sea Center is operated by the Museum of Natural History.  A participatory experience, the Sea Center has the look and feel of a marine science laboratory.  Among the exhibits are a simulated tide pool with surging waves and BioLab focusing on the biology and ecology of deep-sea resources, allowing visitors to participate in current marine research.

Where State Street meets the Pacific Ocean.  Ty Warner Sea Center open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  For more information, call the Museum of Natural History, (805) 682-4711 or visit www.sbnature.org