National Register of Historic Places

Gold Ridge Farm

Sebastopol, Sonoma County, California
Listed
December 14, 1978
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
78000803

About this property

Luther Burbank's Gold Ridge Experiment Farm is the official name of the 3 acres (12,000 m2) that remain of the farm originally purchased in 1885 by famed plant breeder Luther Burbank (1849–1926) in an area of Sebastopol, California, formerly known as the "Gold Ridge District". To these 10 acres (40,000 m2), Burbank added 5 acres (20,000 m2) in 1904 and 3.046 acres (12,330 m2) in 1906 until, in 1923, failing health compelled him to sell 3.046 acres (12,330 m2) of his holdings. Burbank died in 1926. In 1974, Burbank's widow Elizabeth Waters Burbank (1888–1977) donated the remaining 15 acres (61,000 m2) to the Sebastopol Area Housing Corporation for the purpose of erecting low-income, senior, and disabled housing units with the stipulation that the 3-acre (12,000 m2) parcel containing the "Caretaker's Cottage" (that had been constructed a year or two after an older cottage on the property was destroyed by the 1906 earthquake), the barn, the potting shed (destroyed by fire in the late 1960s) and over 250 living specimens of Burbank's work be set aside and left undisturbed as a historical and horticultural area, dedicated to Burbank, to be studied and enjoyed by future generations. Presently owned by the City of Sebastopol, it is administrated by the Western Sonoma County Historical Society and maintained entirely by volunteers.

Location

Sebastopol, Sonoma County, California
38.39754, -122.83482

Categories

AGRICULTUREEDUCATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Gold Ridge Farm

This page lists Gold Ridge Farm. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Gold Ridge Farm report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Strout, George A., House
Industrial
0.5 mi
Sebastopol Depot of the Petaluma and Santa Rosa Railway
Industrial
0.7 mi
Petaluma and Santa Rosa Railway Powerhouse
Industrial
0.7 mi
Hicks House
Industrial
3.2 mi
Llano Road Roadhouse
Industrial
4.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Gold Ridge Farm listed on the National Register?

Gold Ridge Farm was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 14, 1978.

What type of historic resource is Gold Ridge Farm?

Gold Ridge Farm is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Gold Ridge Farm?

The period of significance for Gold Ridge Farm is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Gold Ridge Farm?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Gold Ridge Farm will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Sonoma County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Sonoma County.

Explore SonomaCounty ›

More historic places in California

Browse all historic places in California.

View Californiahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

California history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Californiahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Gold Ridge Farm will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report