Few of Montecito’s legendary estates remain essentially unchanged. The Casa
del Herrero, designed by architect George Washington Smith and completed in
1925, is noted as one of the finest examples of Spanish Colonial Revival
architecture in America, is included on the National Register of Historic
Places, and in January 2009, was designated a National Historic Landmark by
then Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne.
George Fox Steedman, an industrialist, engineer, and amateur architect, had
a vision for the house and grounds that went beyond fashion, and he assembled
an extraordinary team of architects, landscape architects, antiquarians, and
horticulturists to produce the Casa del Herrero estate (House of the
Blacksmith)—recognized today as a masterpiece of the Country Place era. His
participation in every detail of the property’s buildings, furnishings, and
gardens is the reason the estate makes a single artistic statement that is
greater than the sum of its parts. Today the entire 11-acre site is owned and
operated as a historic house museum and garden by the non-profit Casa del
Herrero Foundation, with the goal of preserving the house and grounds, as well
as the family’s collection of antiques, books, sketchbooks, drawings, and
horticultural records.
Tours of the Casa del Herrero house, gardens and workshop are available by
reservation.
We invite you to come experience this graceful Montecito estate ...
“Use well thy
time Fast fly my hours Good work lives
on The night brings
rest”
George Fox Steedman Inscription on four sides of the sundial
Upcoming Events
Master
Class in Oils with Rick Garcia
March 7, 8, and 14,
2014
Three full days of plein air instruction in botanical oil painting, taught
by artist Rick Garcia in the Casa gardens. Lunch and refreshments
provided on each day of the workshop.
Participants will work on an 11x14” oil painting on canvas or linen of
their favorite exotic plants or trees at the Casa. Each day will
begin with a lecture, slideshow, and direction from Rick Garcia.
Rick will also be available for advice and instruction via email between
March 8 and 14.
A moderate level of experience in oil painting required.
Croquet, you say? Come learn to play from renowned croquet professional Jay
Campbell in the Casa’s lovely garden!
This leisurely afternoon of sporting also includes a guided tour of the
Casa, delectable croque-monsieur sandwiches, and refreshing Pimm’s Cup
cocktails.
