Regarded as the best vantage point in Santa Barbara, the County Courthouse offers panoramic views of the city, mountains and Pacific Ocean and draws about 200,000 visitors each year. The construction of this beautiful Spanish-Moorish style building was completed in 1929.

The Santa Barbara Courthouse Clock Tower Observation Deck and Elevator were closed since March 15th, 2015 for making improvements for those with mobility challenges. According to a recent report, the clock tower that sits above the Santa Barbara Courthouse was reopened on July 24th, 2015 with a brand new elevator for visitors to ride to the top.

The courthouse, constructed in 1926 is home to a mural room, an expansive garden, and hundreds of weddings each year. Till its reopening, the 40-year old elevator stopped operation short of the observation tower landing. Visitors had to climb a short series of steps to reach the top level. This had made the breathtaking scenery inaccessible to people with mobility challenges.

The elevator modernization project was funded by a combination of Federal Stimulus dollars and bond money for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance work. All visitors can now ride the elevator up the 85-foot “El Mirador” clock tower and enjoy the stunning views of Santa Barbara that it provides.