Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Santa Cruz

The Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium is a notable event and convention venue located in the heart of downtown Santa Cruz, on Church Street. Since its opening in 1940, the building has been an architectural gem, blending Mission-style design with modern touches and featuring open porches on its corners and sides. Its architectural style has also been characterized as Art Deco.

Owned and operated by the City of Santa Cruz, the auditorium serves as the primary venue for the Santa Cruz County Symphony. It also hosts a diverse array of events including concerts, expos, conferences, and sporting events. A distinctive feature of the venue is the carillon, installed in 1963, adding a unique auditory element to its structure.

The venue has been part of significant cultural and social events. Notably, in 1956, it gained national attention when a rock and roll concert was halted by local police due to the "suggestive, stimulating and tantalizing motions" of the dancers. From 1966 to 1985, the auditorium was the proud host of the annual Miss California beauty pageant. The pageant's departure in 1985 followed protests and the creation of the "Myth California" counter-pageant by feminist activists Ann Simonton and Nikki Craft, marking a pivotal shift in local cultural dynamics.

In 1984, the auditorium received a significant artistic addition when artist Guillermo Wagner Granizo donated a ceramic tile mural entitled "A Gift of Appreciation to this Area," which captures imagery of past events at the venue.

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Sight Name: Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
Sight Location: Santa Cruz, USA (See walking tours in Santa Cruz)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Historical Buildings Walk

Walking Tours in Santa Cruz, California

Create Your Own Walk in Santa Cruz

Creating your own self-guided walk in Santa Cruz is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Historical Buildings Walk

Apart from surfboard-filled shores, Santa Cruz is also rich in history reflected in the old buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While none of Santa Cruz's historic architecture sprang up overnight, a great deal of it was lost, or severely damaged, in a single go on October 17, 1989 as a result of the Loma Prieta earthquake. Still, some of the historic buildings have... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles

Santa Cruz Introduction Walking Tour

Santa Cruz dates back to the founding of Mission Santa Cruz, founded in 1791. The modern city's incorporation dates back to 1866, and some of the most popular industries were agriculture, lime mining, gunpowder manufacturing, and lumber.

In July 1885, three teenage Hawaiian princes took a break from their boarding school, St. Mathew's Hall in San Mateo, and came to cool off in Santa... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles

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