Casa de la Guerra, Santa Barbara

About Casa de la Guerra

Casa de la Guerra is a museum housed in an adobe residence in downtown Santa Barbara that tells the story of the influential de la Guerra family and early California history. Built between 1818 and 1828 by Chumash laborers for José de la Guerra, his wife Maria Antonia Carrillo, and their twelve children, the house served as home to the family for three generations. José de la Guerra was comandante of the Presidio and a prominent landowner and trader whose family played central roles in Santa Barbara's civic, economic, and cultural life. The Casa functioned as a hub of celebration and ceremony, hosting weddings, festivals, dignitaries, and travelers from around the world. The residence continues to serve as a site of community celebrations. Visitors explore the layered histories within the adobe's walls, from Indigenous labor and mission-era commerce to the rise and decline of Californio wealth and influence. The museum is located in Santa Barbara, California.