Category Archives: Santa Barbara

Gladiator Games of Bulls and Bears: Lassoing Grizzlies (1904)

This post is the third entry in a series of four: First: Gladiator Games of Bulls and Bears: A California Blood Sport (1800s) Second: Gladiator Games of Bulls and Bears: Recollections of Jacinto Damien Reyes (1880) Fourth: Gladiator Games of Bulls and … Continue reading

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Datura Bloom

Datura in bloom on the Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County, California. “In their quest for visions and for supernatural power, the Chumash of the Santa Barbara region were one of many tribes throughout North and South America that resorted … Continue reading

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Viva la Fiesta! Santa Barbara’s Old Spanish Days

Today marks the start of Santa Barbara’s five day celebratory event known as Old Spanish Days fiesta. An advertisement from the El Paso Herald in 1919. Related Posts: La Fiesta Pequena at the Old Mission . Santa Barbara’s Old Spanish … Continue reading

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A Ramble through Aliso and Oso Canyons

I went for a walk up Aliso Canyon and on over the ridge into Oso Canyon. I parked at the Aliso Canyon trailhead rather than the Oso Canyon trailhead. That added about four miles to my walk, but I wanted … Continue reading

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Edgar B. Davison’s Cabin (circa 1900)

Edgar B. Davison’s Fir Canyon cabin, Figueroa Mountain, Santa Barbara County. (Courtesy Bryan Conant, by way of a friend.) “Edgar was a forest ranger on Figueroa Mountain from 1898 through 1912, making $75 a month. Grace and Edgar built a … Continue reading

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