Historic Landmarks Commission designates 152 sandstone hitching posts as Structures of Merit

The Santa Barbara Historic Landmarks Commission voted unanimously July 16 to designate 152 sandstone hitching posts across the city as Structures of Merit, citing their role in the city’s historic stonework tradition and streetscape character.

The designation follows a 2022 survey led by local historian Betsy Green that updated a 1975 inventory, locating posts that survive in public tree lawns and documenting missing or altered examples. Commission staff said the sandstone posts are typically ashlar-cut blocks with horse-rings and that many date from about 1870–1940, tied to an era of local sandstone construction and skilled stonemasons.

Commissioners discussed how the designation would affect owners and public works operations. Staff told the Commission that most hitching posts sit in the public tree lawn and therefore are city property, but maintenance of the tree lawn remains the adjacent property owner’s responsibility. Commissioners said the designation will make it harder for property owners or contractors to remove posts without review and urged staff to notify Public Works and Parks and Recreation to avoid accidental removal during street or park maintenance.

Commissioner Jason Enzberg, who nominated the group listing, described the posts as small-scale landscape features that “enhance the detail and diversity of the city’s streetscapes.” Public commenter Rick Clawson, who collected reference materials about local stone architecture, applauded the designation and offered copies of a local pamphlet on stone architecture to the Commission.

The Commission approved a resolution to designate the sandstone hitching posts as Structures of Merit and directed staff to work with Public Works and Parks to identify and protect posts during maintenance and construction. Commissioners suggested future community signage or interpretive plaques to explain the posts’ history, and discussed planting or planting-buffer approaches to visually integrate posts with streetscapes.

The action was approved by roll call vote: Hansberg — yes; Lundbeck — yes; Lodge — yes; Butler — yes; Dordon — yes; Vice Chair Ullie — yes; Chair Grumbine — aye. The Commission also voted to limit this designation to the sandstone posts identified in the submitted survey.