Tremendous Trio of Institutional Anniversaries

S.B. Museums of Art and Natural History and Botanic Garden Celebrate Milestones

For those of us interested in the pursuit of truth and knowledge, the year 2016 is an auspicious one. Not only does it mark the 30th anniversary of this newspaper in your hands (or on your screen), but also three of Santa Barbara’s preeminent institutions are celebrating their own special trips around the sun.

The eldest statesman is the Museum of Natural History, which is in the midst of its centennial year. Close behind is the museum’s Mission Canyon neighbor, the Botanic Garden, which turns 90. And then there is Museum of Art in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, which marks its 75th year.

So while we don’t automatically jump for anniversary joy — every week’s paper would be filled with someone celebrating something if we did — this convergence of big-time birthdays was just too illustrious to pass up. Here’s an ode to each.