Memories of Mountain Drive – SB Historical Museum

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Date & Time

Sat, Oct 22 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sun, Oct 23 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Wed, Oct 26 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Thu, Oct 27 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Fri, Oct 28 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sat, Oct 29 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Wed, Nov 02 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Thu, Nov 03 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Fri, Nov 04 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sat, Nov 05 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sun, Nov 06 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Wed, Nov 09 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Thu, Nov 10 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Fri, Nov 11 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sat, Nov 12 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Wed, Nov 16 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Thu, Nov 17 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Fri, Nov 18 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sat, Nov 19 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sun, Nov 20 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Wed, Nov 23 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Thu, Nov 24 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Fri, Nov 25 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sat, Nov 26 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Wed, Nov 30 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Thu, Dec 01 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Fri, Dec 02 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sat, Dec 03 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sun, Dec 04 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Wed, Dec 07 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Thu, Dec 08 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Fri, Dec 09 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sat, Dec 10 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Wed, Dec 14 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Thu, Dec 15 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Fri, Dec 16 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sat, Dec 17 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sun, Dec 18 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Wed, Dec 21 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Thu, Dec 22 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Fri, Dec 23 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Wed, Dec 28 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Thu, Dec 29 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Fri, Dec 30 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Wed, Jan 04 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Thu, Jan 05 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Fri, Jan 06 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sat, Jan 07 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Wed, Jan 11 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Thu, Jan 12 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Fri, Jan 13 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sat, Jan 14 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sun, Jan 15 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Wed, Jan 18 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Thu, Jan 19 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Fri, Jan 20 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sat, Jan 21 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Wed, Jan 25 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Thu, Jan 26 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Fri, Jan 27 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sat, Jan 28 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sun, Jan 29 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Wed, Feb 01 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Thu, Feb 02 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Fri, Feb 03 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sat, Feb 04 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Wed, Feb 08 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Thu, Feb 09 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Fri, Feb 10 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sat, Feb 11 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sun, Feb 12 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Wed, Feb 15 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Thu, Feb 16 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Fri, Feb 17 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sat, Feb 18 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Wed, Feb 22 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Thu, Feb 23 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Fri, Feb 24 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sat, Feb 25 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sun, Feb 26 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Address (map)

136 E De La Guerra St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Venue (website)

S.B. Historical Museum

Following World War II, a bohemian community of free spirits began on the hillsides above Santa Barbara, where they made wine, music, and art for nearly twenty years. Named “Mountain Drive” for the road that wound through the enclave’s heart, this unique neighborhood is celebrated in a new exhibit now on view at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum.

Inspired by recently digitized oral histories from residents recorded in the 1980s, “Memories of Mountain Drive” features photographs, video, crafts, and more and is on view through February 28, 2023. For more information, visit sbhistorical.org.

“Memories of Mountain Drive” was inspired by the Museum’s collection of oral histories from 26 individuals who lived on Mountain Drive from the 1940s to the 1960s. The oral histories, recorded in the 1980s, were recently digitized. Oral histories are accessible in the exhibit, and the full interviews held by the Museum’s Gledhill Library, can also be found at gledhilloralhistory.org.

“Our goal is to create a feeling for what life was like during that time at that place,” says Museum Executive Director Dacia Harwood. “This exhibit was inspired by the work of our library, which is continuously collecting and preserving our unique local history.”  

Chris Ervin, the Library’s head archivist, oversaw the digitization of the oral histories, and put out a call to the community for Mountain Drive images. He also collaborated with Elias Chiacos, author of the 1994 book “Mountain Drive: Santa Barbara’s Pioneer Bohemian Community,” in obtaining donations of photographs and other items.

The images depict Mountain Drive residents involved in revelry, winemaking, pageantry, creating art and pottery, music-making, and everyday life.

“[A] family with open-hearted generosity and freedom from convention allowed the blossoming of a lifestyle that has become legend,” writes Chiacos. “The beginnings of the hot-tubbing phenomenon, the Renaissance Faire, the revival of early music, crafts and pageantry – all mounted with a rowdy humor and uninhibited sexuality – [are hallmarks] of Mountain Drive’s contribution to the California dream.”

Comprised of teachers, builders, artists, writers, musicians, and dancers, this community pioneered the California Bohemian lifestyle well before the counterculture hippie movement of the 1960s.

The Santa Barbara Historical Museum is located in downtown Santa Barbara at 136 East de la Guerra Street. Admission is free. Hours are currently Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. and Thursdays from noon to 7 p.m. Visit www.sbhistorical.org.

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