CASA DEL HERRERO

WHEN VISITORS COME TO CASA DEL HERRERO, OR THE "HOUSE OF THE BLACKSMITH", THEY ARE TRANSPORTED BACK TO MONTECITO IN THE 1920'S AND 1930'S - 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 INLCUDED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AND MAINTAINS NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK STATUS IN PART DUE TO ITS ECLECTIC MIX OF COUNTRY PLACE ARA 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 STEEMAN 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 INLCUDE THE MONTECITO AND GREATER SANTA BARARA COMMUNITIES IN ADDITION TO THE 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 LEARNINGS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE HOUSE, THE ART COLLECTION, AND GARDEN PLANTS THROUGH SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS WHILE LIFELONG LEARNERS ARE OFTEN COMPRISED OF GARDEN ENTHUSASITS AND ARTISANS. TWENTY-ONE VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE A GREAT BENEFIT GIVING MORE THAN 1,000 HOURS TO SUPPORT CASA'S NEEDS INCLUDING LEADING THE GUIDED TOURS, AND PROVDING GARDEN MAINTENANCE. IN ADDIITON, 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 INDVIDUALS EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY THROUGHOUT SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.ADDITIONALLY, COMMUNITY OUTREACH WAS PROVIDED THROUGH THE YEAR IN THE FORM OF DONOR ENGAGEMENT, MEMBERSHIP, EVENT INVITATIONS, PUBLICITY AND ADVERTISING, AND COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS.