Virginia Hotel, place in California listed on National Register of Historic Places
The Virginia Hotel is a three-story building in Santa Barbara created from two originally separate hotels built in 1916 and 1922. The facade displays Spanish Colonial Revival and Mediterranean styles with arches on the ground floor and arched windows on the upper levels.
The building originated from two separate hotels that were unified and expanded with a third floor by architect Clifford Denman following the 1925 earthquake. After decades of decline, it was comprehensively restored in 1998 and reopened as a hotel.
The hotel reflects how Santa Barbara rebuilt after the 1925 earthquake while maintaining its Spanish character. The arches on the first floor and the arched windows on the third story are features that visitors can see today, showing how the building fits into the city's architectural identity.
The hotel sits in the southeastern part of Santa Barbara's historic district on West Haley Street, offering easy walking access to nearby shops and attractions. The location allows visitors to explore the historic center and surrounding area on foot.
The hotel was one of the first buildings approved by Santa Barbara's architectural committee after the earthquake and helped establish the new Colonial Revival style in the city. This role made it an early model for how the city would rebuild and reshape itself after the disaster.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.