Casa del Herrero

{{short description|Historic house in California, United States}}

{{Infobox NRHP

| name = Casa del Herrero

| nrhp_type = nhl

| image = Casa del Herrero (House of the Blacksmith) was design by George Washington Smith. Montecito, California LCCN2013634667.tif

| caption =

| location = 1387 E. Valley Rd., Montecito, California

| locmapin = California

| coordinates = {{coord|34|26|10.4|N|119|38|13.54|W|display=inline,title}}

| built = 1925

| architect =

| architecture = Colonial Revival, Other, Spanish Colonial Revival

| designated_nrhp_type = {{dts|2009|1|16}}{{cite web|url=http://www.doi.gov/news/09_News_Releases/011609c.html |title=Interior Secretary Kempthorne Designates 9 National Historic Landmarks in 9 States |date=2009-01-16 |publisher=Department of the Interior |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305040615/http://www.doi.gov/news/09_News_Releases/011609c.html |archivedate=2009-03-05 }}

| visitation_num =

| visitation_year =

| added = January 29, 1987

| area = {{convert|10.9|acre|ha}}

| refnum = 87000002{{NRISref|version=2010a}}

}}

Casa del Herrero (also known as the Steedman Estate) is a historic house museum and botanical garden located in Montecito near Santa Barbara, California. It was designed by George Washington Smith, and is considered one of the finest examples of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture in the United States of America.{{cite web|url={{NHLS url|87000002}}|title=NHL nomination for Steedman Estate|publisher=National Park Service|accessdate=2018-02-11}} It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and was designated as a National Historic Landmark on January 16, 2009. Today, the entire {{convert|11|acre|ha|adj=on}} site is owned and operated as a historic house museum and botanical garden by the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Casa del Herrero. The Casa del Herrero organization's mission is to restore and preserve the house and grounds for the benefit of the visiting public.

History

Casa del Herrero (Spanish for "House of the Blacksmith") was designed for George Fox Steedman and his wife, who were moved west from St. Louis, by architect George Washington Smith. The residence was completed in 1925, and the Steedmans moved into it the same day as the Santa Barbara earthquake. Steedman - an industrialist, engineer, and amateur architect - assembled a team of architects, landscape architects, antiquarians, and horticulturists to produce the Casa del Herrero estate — an example of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. Steedman participated in every detail of the property's buildings, furnishings, and gardens.{{cite web |url=http://www.casadelherrero.com/history_casa.html |title=History from the Casa del Herrero website |publisher=Casadelherrero.com |accessdate=2012-09-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120611094217/http://www.casadelherrero.com/history_casa.html |archive-date=2012-06-11 |url-status=dead }} In the 1930s, architect Lutah Maria Riggs designed the octagonal library addition.

Steedman died in 1940, and his widow continued to live there until her death in 1962. Their daughter Medora Bass then lived at the Casa until her death in 1987. The organization that now operates the estate was created in 1993 by her son.

Tours and garden access

Docent-led tours of the Casa del Herrero house, gardens and blacksmith workshop are available by reservation only.{{cite web|url=http://www.casadelherrero.com/pln_ToursVisitorPolicies.html |title=tours |publisher=Casadelherrero.com |date= |accessdate=2012-09-12}} The Casa del Herrero organization offers tours on Wednesdays and Saturdays, by reservation only. Private tours are available through special arrangement. The garden spaces are available for commercial and non-commercial photo shoots. The address is 1387 East Valley Road, Montecito, CA 93108.

References

External links

{{Official website|http://www.casadelherrero.com }}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070427131241/http://www.architect.com/Publish/GWS.html "Founding Father" by David Gebhard]

Category:Houses in Santa Barbara County, California

Category:Gardens in California

Category:Montecito, California

Category:Historic house museums in California

Category:Architecture museums in the United States

Category:Museums in Santa Barbara County, California

Category:Open-air museums in California

Category:Parks in Santa Barbara County, California

Category:Houses completed in 1925

Category:Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in California

Category:National Historic Landmarks in California

Category:National Register of Historic Places in Santa Barbara County, California