Next Phase of County Courthouse Arch Restoration Begins

By the Santa Barbara Courthouse Legacy Foundation

The Santa Barbara Courthouse Legacy Foundation (CLF), announced [this week] the start of another phase of the critical conservation project for the Great Arch of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse. The removal of dark biological growth and pollution that have stained the sandstone on the garden side.

For a number of years portions of the Great Arch of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse which spans the passageway between Anacapa Street and the Sunken Gardens has been visibly deteriorating.  In 2020, the CLF successfully removed a degraded coating on the Anacapa Street side of the arch that was causing deterioration of the Great Arch.

The non-profit organization has now raised enough funds to continue to the conservation work on the garden side of the arch to surface treat the stains that are not only unsightly but lead to interior deterioration of the stone, which causes spalling on the historic sandstone and must be cleaned before further damage is done.

This meticulous work will be done by specialty conservators experienced with historic structures consistent with the Department of the Interior Standards for a National Historic Landmark. The work will involve surface treating the stone with dry ice and localized micro air abrasion to remove black stains and biological debris that have accumulated over many years.  In addition, the project will include washing the interior walls of the Great Arch with soap & water and treating and painting the wrought iron grilles and ornamentation on the windows of the Great Arch.

This important work will start on Monday, April 3rd, and is expected to be completed by June 2023.

“Thank you to our supporters and donors who have made this work possible”, said Angelique Davis, Board President of the Santa Barbara Courthouse Legacy Foundation.  “Without their generous support, we could not continue to give the Courthouse, Santa Barbara’s most-cherished architectural landmark, the attention and care it deserves.”

Once this phase of the Great Arch Project is complete, the CLF will focus on raising funds to begin another phase of the conservation effort which will address damage to the sandstone blocks, failed mortar joints, and loss of ornamental stone features on the Great Arch.

“If the stonework is not repaired, it will continue to deteriorate, leading to an ongoing rise in the cost of future repairs” Angelique Davis added.  “We need to address these issues now, before the Great Arch, a major architectural component of our beloved historic landmark, is compromised.”

About the Santa Barbara Courthouse Legacy Foundation
The Santa Barbara Courthouse Legacy Foundation (CLF) is the only 501c(3) non profit organization whose sole purpose is to provide the historic preservation, conservation and restoration of the Santa Barbara Courthouse, consistent with the status as a historic landmark property. The Courthouse was designated a Santa Barbara City Landmark in 1981, a California State Historic Landmark in 2003 and a National Historic Landmark in 2005. www.sbclf.org