Moreton Bay Fig Tree, Heritage tree at Santa Barbara Train Station, California
The Moreton Bay Fig Tree at Santa Barbara Train Station is a massive Fig tree with sprawling branches that spread across a large area and reach about 80 feet high. The enormous trunk supports dense foliage that creates a wide canopy covering much of the surrounding ground below.
An Australian sailor brought a seedling of this Fig species to Santa Barbara in 1876, where a young woman planted it. The tree has grown continuously since then and gained recognition as a heritage landmark decades later.
The tree serves as a gathering point where locals and visitors sit beneath its wide branches to escape the sun and enjoy the shade. It has become a symbol of Santa Barbara that people immediately recognize when they arrive at the station.
The tree is on public grounds next to the train station and accessible from morning through evening. Parking is available along nearby streets, and the location is easy to reach on foot from downtown Santa Barbara.
The wood of this tree species is known for being extremely durable and rarely attracting pests, which explains why the Santa Barbara specimen has thrived for so long. This natural resistance makes it one of the longest-living trees in the region despite urban surroundings.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
