Casa del Herrero | |
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| Location | 1387 E. Valley Rd.,Montecito, California |
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| Coordinates | 34°26′10.4″N119°38′13.54″W / 34.436222°N 119.6370944°W /34.436222; -119.6370944 |
| Area | 10.9 acres (4.4 ha) |
| Built | 1925 |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Other, Spanish Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000002[1] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | January 29, 1987[1] |
| Designated NHL | January 16, 2009[2] |
Casa del Herrero (also known as theSteedman Estate) is a historic house museum and botanical garden located inMontecito nearSanta Barbara, California. It was designed byGeorge Washington Smith, and is considered one of the finest examples ofSpanish Colonial Revival architecture in the United States of America.[3] It is listed on theNational Register of Historic Places, and was designated as aNational Historic Landmark on January 16, 2009.[2] Today, the entire 11-acre (4.5 ha) site is owned and operated as ahistoric house museum and botanical garden by the501(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.
Casa del Herrero (Spanish for "House of the Blacksmith") was designed forGeorge Fox Steedman and his wife, who were moved west from St. Louis, by architectGeorge Washington Smith. The residence was completed in 1925, and the Steedmans moved into it the same day as theSanta 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 ofSpanish Colonial Revival architecture. Steedman participated in every detail of the property's buildings, furnishings, and gardens.[4] In the 1930s, architectLutah 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.[4]
Docent-led tours of the Casa del Herrero house, gardens and blacksmith workshop are available by reservation only.[5] 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.
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