The Campaign to Save Franceschi House is a rare opportunity to participate in the preservation of one of our greatest community treasures. In 1893 Francesco Franceschi Fenzi – Doctor of Laws, writer, horticulturalist - arrived in Santa Barbara to realize a dream. His vision transformed a dry, rocky slope into a place of simple beauty. |
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 Francesco Franceschi |
Originally situated on 40 acres 800 feet above the sea some two miles away, the property’s climate and exposure were ideal for establishing a botanic garden which he would call Montarioso – airy mountain. In time, a two-story residence was built, surrounded in glass, to embrace the spectacular view seen from the center of his extensive collection of plants. Perhaps no other location in Santa Barbara provides such a unique perspective on the overwhelming beauty of the Mediterranean landscape that Franceschi helped transport to Santa Barbara. |
| Franceschi House represents a passageway in time that takes us to the place where we can glimpse the genesis of our community’s rich horticultural history. Having introduced hundreds of plants from around the world to Santa Barbara’s mild Mediterranean climate, Dr. Franceschi helped transform an otherwise semi-arid landscape into a lush garden focal point – an American Riviera. | |
In 1927, when wealthy East Coast social reformer and philanthropist Alden Freeman acquired the property, he began another transformation. Freeman added a fanciful mix of Eastlake and Italianate elements, and adorned the house with plaster medallions commemorating Dr. Franceschi and other great Italian immigrants and figures from American history. Freeman gave the house to the City of Santa Barbara in 1931 to serve as a monument to Dr. Franceschi. Sadly, Franceschi House and Park have suffered from neglect in the passing years. Despite this decline, Franceschi House continues to fascinate members of our community, and is a city-designated historic “Structure of Merit.” |
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Saving an irreplaceable memento of our community’s heritage offers lasting value. Please join with us to save Franceschi House. The Campaign to Save Franceschi House is the foundation of a public/private partnership between the Pearl Chase Society and the City of Santa Barbara that will preserve the house as a valuable public asset for generations to come. Plans for the Franceschi House rehabilitation include:
Franceschi House is the centerpiece of the 17-acre garden property and public park. Together, the house and garden constitute a historic landscape that reflects a century of history on the site. Further deterioration or removal of the house or the garden threaten the layers of history that make the site unique to Santa Barbara and significant to the community and region. It is the picturesque beauty and rich history of the complete site that, despite more than sixty years of neglect, make it eligible for the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The Campaign to Save Franceschi House is an achievable goal. Through generous private-sector capital investment, Franceschi House will return to valuable public use. The Pearl Chase Society believes in the power of collaboration. At the urging of concerned citizens and with the support of the Santa Barbara City Council, the Pearl Chase Society developed a proposal to partner with the City to rehabilitate Franceschi House. The proposal, which addresses City-developed criteria and neighborhood concerns, was the first step in the development of a new master plan to enhance and restore Franceschi Park. It is a well-considered solution for creating the proper stewardship for a community resource and fits within existing zoning designations for the house and park. Joining in the effort, the independent non-profit PARC Foundation will serve as repository for rehabilitation and endowment funds raised by the campaign. The Campaign to Save Franceschi House is a collaborative effort that empowers private citizens, non-profit organizations, and the City to join together - in synergistic response - to remedy the years of neglect of this city jewel and to unite efforts to celebrate this irreplaceable piece of our community’s unique history and cultural heritage. Community pride is measured by a community’s effort. We invite you to support the Campaign to Save Franceschi House. THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE FRANCESCHI HOUSE Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Please make check payable to: For more information or to volunteer, please contact us. |
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