The magnitude 6.3 earthquake of June 29 , 1925 , was the first destructive earthquake in California since the 1906 San Francisco quake , which destroyed much of downtown Santa Barbara and killed 13 people . The earthquake caused infrastructure to collapse including the Sheffield Dam . The low death toll is attributed to the early hour ( 6:44 a.m. , before most people were out on the streets , vulnerable to falling masonry ) . While this quake , like the one in 1812 , was centered in the Santa Barbara Channel , it caused no tsunami . It came at an opportune time for rebuilding , since a movement for architectural reform and unification around a Spanish Colonial style was already underway . Under the leadership of Pearl Chase , many of the city 's famous buildings rose as part of the rebuilding process , including the Santa Barbara County Courthouse , sometimes praised as the " most beautiful public building in the United States . " There is also the unfortunate incident that happened in 1907 , which included a horrific train accident that took the lives of 32 people
earthquake of June 29 , 1925
1925 Santa Barbara earthquake
Santa Barbara, California