Art, Design & Architecture Museum

The Art, Design & Architecture Museum at the University of California Santa Barbara is a space for art, design archives, and architecture presented through rotating exhibitions and permanent installations. The collection includes medals, historical paintings, contemporary artworks, and extensive documentation of the region's architectural history.

The museum was founded to preserve collections of art objects and architectural records documenting Southern California's development from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century. These collections reflect the architectural and artistic transformations that shaped the region during this period.

The museum displays works from the Morgenroth Collection of Renaissance medals, the Sedgwick Collection of Old Master paintings, and contemporary pieces. These artworks show how different artistic periods and cultures have expressed themselves through visual form.

The museum offers regular exhibitions and is typically open daily, though it may close on major holidays. Visitors should check in advance for special exhibitions or events and allow time to explore the collections at leisure.

The photography collection holds rare early photographic techniques including daguerreotypes, tintypes, and ambrotypes from the 19th century. These images show how photographers worked with the beginnings of their medium and explored new visual possibilities.