I came here for an event today so really my review is tailored more towards the events that Casa is holding but also to acknowledge the fabulous grounds and building though I admit I don't have full context for the history or background. I would definitely come back here to learn about the house and to take the guided tour. This wasn't the purpose for me coming today but the gentleman who works here noted that it's a great tour and I know friends who have enjoyed learning about the family and the history of the house, getting a deeper dive of information. I came here with some friends for their first hosted event Sound Bath. A wellness day if you will. From start to finish everything was very organized and thoughtful. The staff hosting the event and the spiritual wellness guide and sound healer was wonderful. Everyone was nice and you felt welcomed. Not pretentious and just very positive and good vibes. We had a nice group and everyone was respectful and on time for the sound bath so it went off without issue. It was a relaxing experience and the grounds were very nice to hold this outdoor event. The birds were chirping, the sun was shining, we found an area with shade, very nice. Very faint sounds of cars in the distance here and there which wasn't ideal but out of their control and once things settled in you really couldn't hear much external noise. After the relaxing sound bath we were offered tea and light pastry snacks. I opted for a water and began exploring the grounds instead of partaking in the refreshments. The grounds are lush and lovely, very zen. Loved the beautiful trees and walkways with small fountains and running water. It was green and pretty all around from the recent rains. Definitely a great location for events and to learn a little SB history. I will definitely do my research and come back again soon. read more

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Yikes, this is an expensive tour but it is a rarity to see a period house with most of the original occupants furnishings etc. The tours are docent led and very informative. If you like these types of tours, this one is quite worth it. read more

Casa Del Herrero curated the perfect Santa Barbara event, combining Danielle Renee Art and Crush It Wine Education. Edwin and his team at Casa Del Herrero welcomed all of us to this gorgeous estate in the Montecito Hills, many of us for the first time ever on this newly accessible estate. The Casa Del Herrero team was extremely knowledgeable of the estate in the most approachable and accessible way. Everyone was put at ease and felt right at home with this team. The experience was heightened by the excellent local wines brought to us by Julie Cox and Allie Grant of Crush It Wine Education. These ladies are knowledgeable of exceptional wines, brought highlights and detail to each wine and, to my delight, were generous with their pours!! The day could've ended right there, and it would have certainly still have gone down as a magical and enlightening day. But there was more in store for me! Danielle of Danielle Renee Art walked us through a fun collaboration of painting and Santa Barbara wine tasting. Experts and amateur painters alike had plenty of paint, wine and time in this beautiful setting on a typical, warm, sunny Santa Barbara afternoon. I can't wait to come back and enjoy more of this gorgeous estate. I would love to explore the wine cellar, the citrus orchards, and learn more of the history of the cactus garden. I'm sure there are many more secrets for visitors to unlock! read more

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I came for my tour with no expectations and was pleasantly surprised by the great tour I went on of a truly amazing estate. Our tour was lead by a volunteer docent who was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable and great fun to go on tour with. The house, workshop and gardens were wonderful. I highly recommend the tour. First rate! read more

a splendid tour of this George Washington Smith designed home. truly, it feels like a home. the furnishing are beautiful, the kitchen is full of the wonderful tools our grandmothers used. The workshop of the first owner, who was deeply involved in the design of the home, is a wonder. the silver vessels he produced in the workshop attest to his skill and artistry. The gardens are lovely, and have so much to offer the viewer. The docents are knowledgeable and charming. read more

We had a gorgeous day for a tour of this impressive historic property. The docent, Anne Marie, was wonderful. My husband has a severe hearing loss, so she even shared her written notes with him so he could read all the details about the furnishings. Like most Montecito estates, this is hidden from the street. It is a unique and early example of the Spanish revival architecture of the area, very faithful to original styles. Most furnishings and even some of the architectural features, like fireplaces, were imported from Spain. Pictures of the interior are not allowed, but the gardens are very lovely and can be photographed. I made a reservation about a month ahead, using the reciprocal privileges from a historic garden of which I am a member in Maryland. It was well worth the visit. read more

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This is a beautiful property, both the house and gardens. The tour guide and other staff I interacted with were very nice and welcoming. The tour guide shared all kinds of knowledge relating to the properties architectural and art features, and pointed out many interesting attributes and their meaning. It is well worth a visit. In early December, when I went, they only had tours on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and you needed a reservation, but I was able to get one the same day (and so glad I could)! It sounded like the reservations may be harder to get in other times of the year, as they limit it to I think 10 people per tour. read more

Had a fantastic visit with our group. The buildings were beautiful and well-maintained, and the gardens were much more than any of us imagined. A real jewel in Montecito. Our docent, Larry Parsons, was great; knowledgeable and a really nice guy. Would recommend this visit to anyone with an interest in California history! read more

Really interesting place with a great history. Beautifully kept and a well guided tour. I might have liked a little more time in the gardens and a little less in the house but that's individual taste. Definitely recommend for a more intimate look at local history. read more

This was a find! A Spanish Colonial home in Montecito!! We arrived just five minutes prior. The gate wasn't open until the scheduled tour (in residential neighborhood). We were a small group of eight. The docent had a wealth of information about the architecture, furnishings and of the family that resided in the home. We walked into every room then the the garden and finished off in the workshop. Truly worth the visit! read more

Amazing history! The house and garden are beautiful. The workshop is impressive. Only open 2 days a week and worth a visit.

Amazing and unique peek into history. This estate has been fully preserved with original furniture in place. George Fox Steedman's workshop was the highlight of our tour. It looks as if he's just stepped out for a moment. Laura Bridley made our visit memorable and shared fascinating details about GW Smith and the family life of the Steedmans. read more

Casa del Herrero - Steedman's workshop - Museums Near Me - Montecito, California

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It is very hard to obtain a reservation here, so call ahead. Tours run only Wednesdays and Saturdays. Parking is very limited. It was a lovely tour by docent Sally Green. She was a perfect guide, lots of details and back ground information given in an interesting way. The house and gardens are a gem. Never had heard of it, just saw it listed on Tavel Advisor and highly rated. We were a party of seven and were warmly greeted upon arrival. The tour starts in with a short film then continues into a beautifully paved stone entry way in front of the house. I liked the detailed information about the plants, many of which are quiet old. read more

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This 1925 Spanish colonial revival house was designed by the same architect as the larger and grander Santa Barbara Courthouse (see https://www.yelp.com/biz/santa-barbara-county-courthouse-santa-barbara). The original dark and bulky furnishings are still in the house which added to the dreary and cramped atmosphere. The docent made repeated comparisons to Hearst Castle due to the similar motifs and ceiling appropriated from a Spanish monastery that was installed in the foyer. The best features were the decorative tiles and views of the gardens from inside the house. With tours offered only four times a week, the tour group was sold-out. The group had too many people for the tighter spaces in the house where three less people would have been a better size. About half of the tour was outside in the gardens and also covered both floors of the house and the workshop for metal and wood projects. The 90-minute tour lasted 100 minutes. read more

House is nice but could easily be seen with a much more efficient docent in 20 minutes, not 2 hours. The garden and shop are far more interesting than the main house, and the tour doesn't give you time to see these read more

Casa del Herrero - Museums Near Me - Montecito, California

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Amazingly well-preserved classic California estate. The walking tour is worth it!

Fans of unique and historic homes will enjoy this gem! Here is an example of Spanish Colonial Architecture, with a bit of the eclectic style mixed in. Designed by the famous architect George Washington Smith and with generous input of the inventive home owner, George Fox Steedman, it is a treasure that I hope can be preserved and enjoyed for a long time to come. Reservations are required and there are just 3 tours per week, lead by knowledgeable docents. There is some uneven footing out in the gardens and some steps to view the second story bedrooms. The home still has some original furniture and fixtures and a few replacements as necessary. Antiques and relics abound. Worth the time and money, it was fun and interesting for my wife and I! read more

We just had the opportunity to tour Casa del Herrera. This is a fascinating view into Santa Barbara history. The house, furnishings and gardens reveal incredible details around every corner. Thank you to our knowledgeable docent Jane. read more

I didn't have any trouble getting a reservation here. I called on a Wednesday and left a voicemail, they called me back later that day and I booked a reservation for that Saturday. You have to pay up front on the phone so be ready for that. It was a beautifully sunny day in Santa Barbara when we went - the sun added so much to the lighting of the house and the gardens. There were about 11 of us on the tour. They first made us watch a quick informational video on the history of the house and family. The tour covers two aspects of the house, the family history and the history behind the house and furniture. I frankly didn't care too much about the family history - it's some old rich family with lots of old money - but seeing how they sourced the house is fascinating. The interior of the house is actually a lot smaller than I thought. Then again I was thinking 'mansion', but i should have been thinking on the scale of 'big house.' The inside is nice though, with lots to look at and unique well thought out architecture. However I definitely enjoyed the tour of the grounds more. Sprawling plants that have been there for a hundred years, fountains, rose gardens, a succulent garden, orchards, and a fascinating old dragons blood tree. They even let us pick at the fruit and herbs that were growing. This was a great highlight to our Saturday morning and it lasted about two hours long. This is a great place to visit if you enjoy architecture and pretty things. I wouldn't bring kids though... or people who don't enjoy house tours. read more

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While staying Montecito I googled historic homes and found this place. I called and it turned out there was room in the 10am tour the next morning, which was perfect! We have been to Hearst Castle on many occassions so this had some similarities and ties to some of the building of Hearst and the Santa Barbara courthouse too, which is where we got married so I have been there many times. Fascinating to find a home in its practically original state with the original furnishings intact. Museum quality items! And to find an original intact Silversmith Workshop is amazing. Just wish we could have taken pics without a flash in there! Lots of beautiful gardens to walk through also. Our tour guide ran a little over and so we got a 2 hour tour, which I prefer to get more info, just gets a little tough to stand that long so be prepared for that. So glad this family took the time to preserve the home and all that is within it. A true gem. read more

Casa del Herrero - Backside of Casa Del Herrero - Museums Near Me - Montecito, California

Hubby and I tour houses, mansions and castles everywhere we go, and he was dying to see this because of the lovely stone work outside of the front door. We also like Spanish/Moorish style. So this was a nice stop. Only complaint: the tour was over 90 minutes long and could have been completed in 40 minutes easily. Our tour guide was lovely but just talked too much. Would be more fun to tour it with an audio guide so that you could control what you hear. Even just a paper guide would be fine. But it's worth the stop if you like this type of thing. read more

This place is a gem in Santa Barbara! The house is very well preserved. The tour was lovely and very educational. It is worth every penny. The docent was very nice and gave a great tour! It's worth a check out! Just know that tours are only given Wednesday and Saturday and you have to have a reservation. Each tour is limited to about twelve people and are given twice a day. read more

A wonderful place to visit. Not too hard to find and well worth the drive to get there (the driving directions they provide are most helpful). The docents are very knowledgeable and friendly. The pace is leisurely and not rushed. The house is fascinating and the grounds lovely. All in all a casual retrospective of what makes Santa Barbara so memorably Californian. read more

Casa del Herrero is one amazing place. It has incredible architecture, landscape designs, antiques - it's like a mini Hearst Castle! The docent leading our tour was wonderfully gracious and informed - very nice pace and timing. This is a must see and I became a member to enjoy other events around the year. read more

Fascinating walking tour of a classic Montecito estate...I think it's the only one, in fact, open for tours to the public in Montecito. The tour is about an hour and a half and includes the house, garden and workshop. Our docent really knew an incredible amount of detail about all the Spanish antiques and art in the house and peppered the tour with interesting anecdotal stories about the original owner, who sounds like he was quite the renaissance man. The downside? You need to have advance reservations, kids under ten aren't allowed, and you're on your feet for the whole time, so it could be tough for the mobility-challenged. read more

A GORGEOUS estate, only problem is the docent afflicted with talker's disease. You'll be forced to stand at attention 90 minutes while your would-be comic drones on mercilessly. You're not permitted to simply be there. Or imagine. Or look at your own pace. Instead you'll listen to which chemicals produce what results in the tilework, not to mention details of the heir's flourishing egg business. Comparisons will be made to the worth of stuff in other mansions, and if any art piece contains a saint you must learn the nature of the saint's story. Editorial asides and abundant commentary never give you a minute's rest. You emerge wishful and wasted. See if there's a tour for the deaf where they speed it up a bit. Truly remarkable estate of yet another robber baron with a fondness for puns. read more

I couldn't disagree more with the posting stating that the tour is too long and the docent "drones on." It depends on your expectations: first off, you can't just wander around this historic home, you have to be on a tour. That's just the way it is. Secondly, some people revel in historical anecdotes and others find them uninteresting (the previous poster was obviously in THAT camp). I thought the stories were fascinating. I also found it very easy to imagine what it was like to live there -- as all the Steedman's original furniture, personally chosen antiques and artworks, and even Mr. S's workshop are fully intact! This isn't a "renovation" like many historic homes - it is as if they still live there! Don't miss it! But do plan in advance -- tours are Wednesdays and Saturdays, by reservation only. read more

If you like house tours, this is an excellent one -- well worth the cost. To my mind, the exterior is a little less interesting than the interior, but the grounds are nonetheless gorgeous, and in its entirety the tour is a wonderful glimpse into old (well, early 1900's) California. This is a truly special property that, by the way, many locals don't even know about. Tip: Try to go when Ethel is the guide; she's a font of information and truly passionate about the casa -- she really made our tour. read more

It was a fun field trip to see this cute old house with interesting antique tiles and pretty details. Our docent was so fun and nice and knowledgeable. The only thing I wished was that he had made himself rich by manufacturing something nicer to people than projectile ammunition that was used for World War.. read more