Phase I of The Great Arch restoration project (2020)

The renowned Great Arch and historic gateway into the Santa Barbara Courthouse, Administration building, Hall of Records, and Sunken Garden had developed a post-historic, blanched coating on its sandstone masonry; greatly compromising its architectural integrity, and creating a risk of ongoing deterioration. The Courthouse Legacy Foundation (CLF) contracted with EverGreene Architectural Arts to perform the work to remove the coating and restore The Arch to its original beauty.

The first phase, completed in October 2020, involved the cleaning of the surface soiling and biological growth, with the recommendation to complete annual aqueous cleaning to minimize future accumulations of soiling, deposits and biological growth, as well as modification of the fountain water circulation and purification systems to prevent further deterioration of the sculpted figures on The Arch.

CLF is now focusing on raising funds to begin Phase II of the Great Arch Restoration project, which will address these maintenance items as well as the reparation of the stone cracks, failed mortar joints, existing erosion and loss of ornamental stone features on The Arch.

Our mission to preserve Santa Barbara’s most prominent architectural beauty is not over, and we need your help!  Please consider a donation to help us to achieve our goal of preserving our City’s treasure and statuesque State and National Historic landmark, The Santa Barbara Courthouse.  Thank you.  Donate Today.