Built in 1929 in Spanish-Moorish Revival style after the 1925 earthquake levelled the old courthouse, this is widely considered the most beautiful working courthouse in the United States. The white walls, red-tile roofs, painted ceilings, and the green sunken garden where outdoor weddings take place make it as much a destination as a public building.
Don't miss the Mural Room on the second floor or the elevator up to El Mirador, the clock tower — the open-sided platform at the top is free to climb and gives the best panorama in Santa Barbara, with the mountains on one side and the harbour on the other. Free docent-led tours run most weekdays at 2 pm.