The Pearl Chase Society is an all volunteer, not-for-profit conservancy dedicated to preserving Santa Barbara’s historic architecture, landscapes and cultural heritage.
Few American communities possess the natural beauty, built environment, or civic spirit with which Santa Barbara is graced. Yet anyone familiar with our rich history knows that these attributes did not happen by chance, but rather were the result of years of thoughtful and consistent action by the area’s residents. Of these, no one did more than the remarkable Pearl Chase (1888 – 1979), who shaped the architectural development of the city and county through her wide-ranging influence and tireless advocacy.
Established in 1995, the Pearl Chase Society continues to advance and enlarge upon the founding vision of Pearl Chase.
The Society is a citizen-based conservancy that fills a crucial need today in preserving and enhancing the cultural and architectural heritage of Santa Barbara county.
The Society engages in charitable and educational activities to promote and preserve Santa Barbara’s historic sites of rare value and continuing community interest.
Members of the Pearl Chase Society are invited to attend general meetings of the Society, have opportunities to serve on committees of particular interest, receive newsletters and calendars, and participate in special tours and lectures. Members may also volunteer for a variety of activities.
Most important, membership in the Pearl Chase Society supports our crucial ongoing efforts to protect the irreplaceable historic resources of the Santa Barbara area.
Pearl Chase believed in the power of collaboration, and we are committed to fostering productive relationships with both public and private entities. The Society provides financial support and volunteer assistance in the preservation of historic gardens, structures, and other resources.
Our bylaws contain our stated purpose:
To increase public awareness of Santa Barbara’s irreplaceable historical, cultural and architectural re-sources, to gather and disseminate information useful in the preservation of structures, neighborhoods, and gardens of the city and county of Santa Barbara, to engage in such charitable and educational activities as will promote the preservation and enhancement of Santa Barbara’s historic sites of rare value and continuing community interest.
The Pearl Chase Society is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization (Tax ID #77-0474251). Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
- We are a volunteer, not-for-profit conservancy dedicated to preserving Santa Barbara’s historic architecture
- We conduct public tours of our community’s historic homes and neighborhoods
- We conduct public tours of our community’s historic homes and neighborhoods
- We support cataloging and identification of historic photographs and documents stored by the city of Santa Barbara
- We offer educational trips to historic sites in the city and county of Santa Barbara
- We sponsor public speakers, conferences, and lectures to promote preservation of our unique architecture, landscapes, and cultural heritage
- We provide volunteers for neighborhood-based historic resources surveys
- We partner with the city of Santa Barbara and other community organizations on various projects and the designation of historic districts