Archaeological Discoveries during the Casa de la Guerra Restoration

Between 1992 and 2006 the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation undertook a restoration of Casa de la Guerra. This early-19th century adobe home in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara had gone through many generations of alterations including being inclorporated into the 1920s El Paseo shopping complex. SBTHP conducted above-ground archaeology  and based on the findings in conjunction with documentary evidence, restored it to its original configuration during the occupation of the home by its builder, Jose de la Guerra. 

This exhibit will bring you into the restoration process as archaeologists make four key discoveries.  Photographs taken on site during the work, diagrams and field notes created by the archaeology team and interviews with lead archaeologist Michael Imwalle allow you to be part of the discovery process.  

Credits

This exhibit was curated by Nicole Archambeau, Ph.D. based on the fieldwork report notes, and images of SBTHP Archaeologist Michael H. Imwalle.