Faith Mission
Also known as: Hotel Savoy
Why it's listed
Built in 1889 at 409 State Street in Santa Barbara, this two-story brick building began as the Faith Mission, a religious corporation branch that offered services and sleeping rooms to young men in need. Its flat-roofed front carries a plastered facade topped by a pressed metal entablature bearing the date "A.D. 1889," along with stamped metal piers decorated with rosettes, leaves, chevrons and human heads. Inside, a first-floor auditorium has redwood wainscoting and a cornice gap that served as an early form of air conditioning. The mission's pastor, Mrs. E. J. Scudder, fed and lodged transients in exchange for work tickets, and later occupants included a charities relief association and a missionary alliance. It became the Hotel Savoy by 1929-30. The design is attributed to Peter J. Barber, though this is not firmly established. Few exterior changes have occurred, and the building is a designated City Landmark.
Significance in brief: The building is architecturally unusual in southern Santa Barbara County for its elaborate stamped metal facade decoration. It may be the only late 19th century commercial building in downtown Santa Barbara with an intact original facade. It also reflects local social and humanitarian history as a mission offering religious services, lodging and relief to transients and young men.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82002269, listed January 11, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 409 State St., Santa Barbara |
|---|---|
| County | Santa Barbara County |
| Listed | January 11, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002269 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1889 |
| Architect / builder | Attributed to Peter J. Barber |
| Architectural style | Late Italianate, with some Eastlake stamped metal ornamentation |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Undergoing rehabilitation at the time of nomination (work in progress); the building had operated as a hotel until the rehabilitation began. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 34.41600, -119.69524 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82002269.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5431216
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.