This half-block served as Santa Cruz's city and county center, with the Cooper House originally built as the courthouse in 1866. In the 1970s-80s it transformed into a legendary gathering spot for music, dining, and dancing. Demolished after the 1989 earthquake, the site is now home to Abbott Square.

See the Compass Rose building, one of the oldest surviving structures downtown, and the iconicTown Clock built in 1976.

Enjoy sweeping views of downtown from this historic site, home to the oldest building in Santa Cruz County—an 1822-1824 adobe that housed indigenous families at the Mission, the best preserved Native American residence at any California mission.

Once the heart of the Mission Santa Cruz, this plaza became the original town center after secularization in the 1830s, serving as the gathering place for the emerging community.

Squid Row is a quirky alley between Chestnut and Union streets, once home to the legendary Calamari Festival in the 1980s. This artistic enclave features unique architectural details and creative galleries.

Santa Cruz City Hall, built in 1937 in Monterey Colonial Revival style, and the neighboring Civic Auditorium from 1940 form the city's government and cultural center downtown.

Stroll through this walkable neighborhood lined with grand Victorian-era homes and lush gardens,

This stunning Art Deco movie palace, built in 1936, remains a beloved downtown landmark showcasing independent films and hosting legendary midnight screenings.