History surrounds you as you walk around downtown Santa Barbara. Museums, adobes and mansions give you a glimpse into life in the days gone by. You can visit historic sites on your own: the Red Tile Walking Tour, a 12-block, self-guided tour through downtown, can be found with a map from the Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce (call 965-3021). Or, you can tag along the Historic Downtown Walking Tours, a docent-led stroll through downtown 10 a.m. on Saturdays, May through Labor Day. The group meets at the City Hall steps in De la Guerra Plaza (965-6307, $5 general).

Here are some of the must-see sites:

Brinkerhoff Avenue
Located off Cota St. between De la Vina and Chapala. This charming collection of historic homes reflects turn-of-the-century architecture. Now home to antique and specialty shops, open Tues.-Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Carpinteria Valley Museum of History
956 Maple Ave., Carpinteria. Local history with exhibits on Chumash Indians, Mexican Rancho and American pioneers. Tues.-Sat. 1-4 p.m. 684-3112.

Carriage & Western Arts Museum of Santa Barbara
129 Castillo St. Display of more than 70 horse-drawn carriages, which were so important to early transportation. Many of the carriages are shown in the annual Old Spanish Days Parade. Also on display: decorative saddles and mural by the Western artist Ed Borein. Open Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. & Sun. 1-4 p.m. 962-2353.

Casa de la Guerra
15 E. De la Guerra St. This historic adobe, now open as a house museum, features period rooms and special exhibitions. Built in the 1820s, the house reflects the history of its original occupants — the family of patriarch JosŽ de la Guerra. Thurs.-Sun., noon-4 p.m. 965-0093.

Historic El Paseo
Entrances on State, De la Guerra and Anacapa streets. This old Spanish-style shopping arcade, built around the former residence of the De la Guerra family, is known as America's first connected, free-standing shopping center.

Judge Charles Fernald Mansion & Trussel-Winchester Adobe
414 W. Montecito St. The elegant Victorian Queen Anne-style Fernald Mansion has been restored to reflect life of a Santa Barbara judge and family, circa 1900. The Trussell-Winchester Adobe, built by Capt. Horatio Gates Trussell for his family in 1854, is a hybrid of architectural styles, melding adobe with wooden construction. It also features timber and brass from a ship wrecked off Anacapa Island. 2-4 p.m. every Sunday. $3 general. 966-1601.

Karpeles Manuscript Museum
21 W. Anapamu St. Ongoing displays of historically significant manuscripts. Daily 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 962-5322.

La Purisima Mission State Historic Park
2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc. Founded in 1787, the Mission was the 11th established in California. A major earthquake destroyed many of the buildings in 1812, but the mission complex has been fully restored. Special events include: Mission Life Day (re-creation of mission life), June 24, July 15, Aug. 19 & Sept. 16; Purisima's People Day (volunteers portray inhabitants of the past), June 3, July 1, Aug. 5, Sept. 9, Oct. 7. 733-3713.

Old Mission Santa Barbara (1786)
Upper end of Laguna Street at Los Olivos. 682-4713. Its beautiful setting, unique twin bell towers and lovely facade have earned the Mission the title "Queen of the Missions." The 10th of the California religious outposts, it was founded in 1786 by the Spanish Franciscans and was for many years a home for Chumash Indians who lived in the area. Tours daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $4 adults, under 12 free.

Plaza De la Guerra
Off De la Guerra Street between State and Anacapa. Includes City Hall, designed in Spanish Colonial Revival style, and the Santa Barbara News-Press, California's oldest daily newspaper.

The Presidio (1782)
123 E. Canon Perdido St., in El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historical Park. The Presidio is the reconstruction of the original fort built at Santa Barbara's founding in 1782. It features a splendidly decorated chapel, officers' and padre's quarters and special events celebrating local history. Daily 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 966-9719.

Santa Barbara County Courthouse (1929)
1100 Anacapa St. 962-6464. Built in 1929, this Spanish-Moorish building houses public offices and courtrooms is said to be one of the most beautiful in the U.S. Clock tower offers panoramic views of the city. Guided tours Mon.-Sat. at 2 p.m. and Mon., Tues. & Fri. at 10:30 a.m. Open Mon.-Sat. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sun. 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Santa Barbara Historical Museum
136 E. De la Guerra St. 966-1601. An authentic adobe complex housing treasures from the Chumash, Spanish, Mexican and American eras. Special exhibitions include "An Uncommon Mission, Father Jerome Tupa Paints the California Missions" through July 30, Earthquake Exhibit Aug. 17 and Henry Sandon, China expert from England, Oct. 28. Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sun. 12-5 p.m. Closed Mon. Free admission. Gledhill Library Hours: Tues.-Fri., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; first Sat. of each month, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; closed weekends/Mondays.

Sanyun Library of the SB County Genealogical Society
316 Castillo St., on the historic site of the laboratory of Dr. Melville Sahyun, inventor of Visine eye drops. 884-9909. Center for genealogy/family history research with 5,000+ volume research library. Tues., Thurs. & Fri. 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Sun. 1-4 p.m. Call for information about day-long genealogical seminar.

South Coast Railroad Museum
300 N. Los Carneros Road. 964-3540. Goleta's 1901 Southern Pacific Depot was relocated here in 1981. Antique railroad artifacts, photographs and exhibits; miniature train rides. Wed.-Sun. 1-4 p.m.

Stow House (1872)
304 N. Los Carneros Road, Goleta. 964-4407. This two-story 1872 Victorian is the oldest frame house in the Goleta Valley. Sat. & Sun. 2-4 p.m. (Special tours by arrangement.) Goleta Valley Historical Society www.goletahistory.org

HISTORIC ADOBES

Dating from the Spanish and Mexican eras, these houses formerly belonged to some of early Santa Barbara's wealthiest Spanish families:

Caņeda Adobe (c. 1782)
123 E. Canon Perdido St. in Presidio de Santa Barbara Historical Park

Hill-Carrillo Adobe
11 E. Carrillo St. Originally built by Daniel Hill for his bride.

Oreņa Adobe (1848-58)
27-29 E. De la Guerra St. The city's first wooden floor is found inside.

Lugo Adobe
114 E. De la Guerra St. Remodeled by Bernhard Hoffman in 1922. Includes two wings called the Meridian Studios, rented by architects and artists over the years.

Rochin Adobe (1856)
820 Santa Barbara St.

Santiago de la Guerra Adobe (1812)
110 E. De la Guerra St.

Fernald Mansion & Trussel1-Winchester Adobe (1854)
414 W. Montecito St. Docent-led tours every Sunday 2-4 p.m. Admission: Adults $3.00, Children under 17, $1.00. For more information or to arrange private group tours, call 805/966-1601.

Casa Covarrubias
136 E. De la Guerra St. This 1817 adobe features a sala, courtyard and arbor with lawn area that is a popular site for smaller parties. In the adobe the warmth and intimacy of a fireside room provides the perfect ambiance for small meetings or receptions for sixty guests. Located on the Santa Barbara Historical Museum grounds, Casa Covarrubias rents for $500. For more information about these sites call Robin Richardson-Romero 805/966-1601 or FAX 805/966-1603.