Casa Del Herrero

TO MAINTAIN, PRESERVE AND RESTORE THE HOUSE, FURNISHINGS, GARDENS AND HISTORY OF THE STEEDMAN/BASS ESTATE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY, VISITING PUBLIC, SCHOLARS, EDUCATORS, AND STUDENTS.

WHEN VISITORS COME TO CASA DEL HERRERO, OR THE "HOUSE OF THE BLACKSMITH," THEY ARE TRANSPORTED BACK TO MONTECITO IN THE 1920S AND 1930S - THE HEYDAY OF THE ORIGINAL OWNER GEORGE FOX STEEDMAN. DESIGNED BY GEORGE WASHINGTON SMITH, THE CASA IS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF SPANISH COLONIAL REVIVAL ARCHITECTURE IN AMERICA. IT IS INCLUDED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, AND MAINTAINS NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK STATUS IN PART DUE TO ITS ECLECTIC MIX OF COUNTRY PLACE ERA AND MOORISH INSPIRED GARDENS CREATED BY RALPH STEVENS, LOCKWOOD DE FOREST, AND FRANCIS T. UNDERHILL. TODAY, THE 11-ACRE ESTATE OPERATES WITH THE GOAL OF PRESERVING THE HOUSE AND GROUNDS, AS WELL AS THE STEEDMAN FAMILY'S COLLECTION OF FIFTEENTH AND SIXTEENTH-CENTURY FINE AND DECORATIVE ART OBJECTS FROM THE "GOLDEN AGE" OF SPAIN, BOOKS, SKETCHBOOKS, DRAWINGS, AND HORTICULTURAL RECORDS. CASA DEL HERRERO IS PRESERVED AND STEWARDED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY.IN A TYPICAL YEAR, CASA DEL HERRERO IS VISITED BY MORE THAN 2,500 PEOPLE, WHICH INCLUDES INDIVIDUALS TAKING THE GUIDED TOUR, SCHOOL CHILDREN, AND LIFELONG LEARNERS. VISITORS ON THE GUIDED TOUR INCLUDE THE MONTECITO AND GREATER SANTA BARBARA COMMUNITIES IN ADDITION TO INDIVIDUALS VISITING FROM THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, AND BEYOND. NINETY MINUTE TOURS ARE AVAILABLE ON WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS AT 10:00 A.M. AND 2:00 P.M., AND REQUIRE ADVANCED RESERVATIONS.CHILDREN HAVE THE BENEFIT OF LEARNING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE HOUSE, THE ART COLLECTION, AND GARDEN PLANTS THROUGH SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS WHILE LIFELONG LEARNERS ARE OFTEN COMPRISED OF GARDEN ENTHUSIASTS AND ARTISANS. EIGHTY-EIGHT VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE A GREAT BENEFIT GIVING MORE THAN 3,000 HOURS TO SUPPORT CASA'S NEEDS INCLUDING LEADING THE GUIDED TOURS, AND PROVIDING GARDEN MAINTENANCE. IN ADDITION, FRUIT FROM THE CASA'S EXTENSIVE ORCHARD IS GIVEN TO THE FOODBANK OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY AS PART OF ITS BACKYARD BOUNTY PROGRAM. WITH MORE THAN 500 POUNDS OF FRUIT GLEANED AT A TIME, THE CASA IS CONTRIBUTING THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF PRODUCE TO THE ONE IN FOUR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.ADDITIONALLY, COMMUNITY OUTREACH WAS PROVIDED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IN THE FORM OF DONOR ENGAGEMENT, MEMBERSHIP, EVENT INVITATIONS, PUBLICITY AND ADVERTISING, AND COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS.