University of California, Santa Barbara, Public university in Santa Barbara, United States
The University of California, Santa Barbara is a public university in Santa Barbara County, United States. The buildings spread across a coastal site facing the Pacific Ocean with views toward the Channel Islands.
The institution started in 1891 as an independent teachers college and became part of the University of California system in 1944. The move to the present oceanfront location happened in 1958.
The campus is known informally as The Beach University because students often head to the shore between classes. Many combine academic work with surfing or volleyball on the adjacent sands throughout the year.
Visitors can walk through open areas of the campus and explore the coastal setting. The bike paths connect the main buildings and also lead to the nearby town center.
Part of the grounds was once a World War Two military airfield. The old runway is still visible today and serves as a wide pedestrian path through the campus.
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