Tag archives: George Washington Smith

To Mexico and Beyond
By Lynda Millner   |   April 19, 2022

Casa del Herrero has had an extra treat during their tours the last couple of months: They have opened the servants’ quarters to the public for the first time. The reason is an exhibit of internationally celebrated California artist, the late Channing Peake. The show takes place in the three servants’ rooms. Carrie and George […]

The Best Last Place Part 2 of 2
By Lynda Millner   |   March 8, 2022

George Washington Smith was the architect of the Santa Barbara chapel along with Lutah Maria Riggs. It was one of his few public buildings along with the Lobero, the Little Town Club, and the News-Press building (Daily News) because he usually built homes or businesses. The concrete chapel dome is Tunisian and wasn’t painted or […]

Preserving a Piece of Montecito History
By Steven Libowitz   |   January 27, 2022

Laura Bridley comes by her affinity for Casa del Herrero honestly. A native of Montecito, Bridley has a lot of memories of connection with the land and structures in the community that channeled into a career in city planning that has included positions with the Architectural Board of Review, the Historic Landmarks Commission, the City […]

An Unexpected Discovery
By Nick Schou   |   January 2, 2020

The life and accomplishments of one of the most influential but least known Santa Barbara architects will be celebrated at the Lobero Theatre on January 5. LUTAH A Passion for Architecture: A Life of Design tells the story of Lutah Maria Riggs (1896-1984), a protégé of famed architect George Washington Smith, who, among other landmark local buildings […]

Lauding Lutah
By Richard Mineards   |   January 16, 2019

Six years after its world premiere at the Lobero, the theater she designed, animal activist Gretchen Lieff‘s award-winning documentary on Santa Barbara architect Lutah Maria Riggs, had a sold-out reprise showing as gale-force winds blew. Having attended the first event – I am even mentioned in the credits – it was nice to see such […]

Florestal: Then and Now
By Lynda Millner   |   April 26, 2018

The Santa Barbara Historical Museum (SBHM) tried something new and different. The event began at the Lobero tent for a reception. After, the guests went into the historic theatre for a presentation by architect Marc Appleton titled “Florestal: Then and Now.” This talk was about architecture, garden, and a family chronicle of the Spanish Colonial […]

Florestal and the Bryces
By Hattie Beresford   |   April 12, 2018

Considered by many to be the first American war bride of WWI, Angelica Schulyer Brown, descendant of a member of the famous 1818 Brown Brother’s banking firm, arrived in Santa Barbara as part of her honeymoon in April 1917. “Girlie,” as she was known by her society intimates, had been the reigning queen of Caroline […]