W is for Wedding and Watching the Clock (Tower): A Free to See #AtoZ Challenge Post

 

The white Spanish-style Santa Barbara courthouse, with clock tower

I'm living in southern California this year, and decided to use my exploration of the area as my focus for the #AtoZChallenge. I'm concentrating on free to see places, though I will include locations that require a parking fee. This is the twenty-third post in the series.

Although a county courthouse doesn't seem like a likely tourist destination, in Santa Barbara, California, it is one of the most popular places to visit. The nearly 100-year-old building boasts beautiful Spanish architecture, colorful tile accents, and detailed murals. Visitors to the open rooms are welcome--even during weddings. 

An interior room in the courthouse features tiles on the stairwell and walls, a round window with floral decor around it, and a large painting

A wedding takes place inside the courtroom

A highlight of the courthouse is the clock tower. Visitors can go up to the top of the tower for panoramic views. They also can enter (on Wednesdays and Saturdays, from 10:45-12:05) the room that houses the workings of the clock. Even if the room isn't open on the day you visit, you can still view the clock from large windows in the stairwell. Being able to observe the clock workings in motion is a real treat. The clock chimes every 15 minutes, with the longest song playing on the hour.

The clock workings, complete with gears and rods

On the day that I visited, Dr. David Bismo, who is responsible in part for the clock gallery being open to the public, just happened to be in the room at the same time I was. He explained the history of the room, from the murals on the wall which explain how time has been understood throughout the ages, to the ceiling that shows how the constellations appeared at the time of the discovery of Santa Barbara by the Europeans, to the clock itself. He even pointed out that the seemingly heavy bells that appear to be struck every fifteen minutes are actually made of Styrofoam, and the hammers trigger an electrical rendition of Westminster chimes. 

If you go to Santa Barbara, don't miss the county courthouse. It's definitely worth a stop! There is limited free street parking, or you can park in a public pay lot across the street. Admission to the courthouse and clock tower is free.