Hope, Thomas, House
Also known as: Hope House
Why it's listed
Built in 1875 for rancher Thomas Hope, this two-story redwood mansion at 399 Nogal Drive in Santa Barbara served as headquarters for his 6,663-acre ranch. Architect Peter J. Barber designed it in the Italianate style, with a broad front porch, an upper balcony, tall sash windows, eave brackets and a central hall with a mahogany-railed stairway. Hope was a major landowner and the local Indian agent, and his ranch later became the Hope Ranch Park neighborhood. Barber also designed the 1872 county courthouse, the Arlington Hotel and the Upham Hotel. The house remains in its original setting on 7.5 acres, still surrounded by a bunk house, manager's cottage, fire house, garages and an equipment shed now used as a stable. After sitting vacant, vandalized and condemned in the 1960s, it was bought and restored from 1968, furnished with Victorian pieces, and opened to visitors on occasion.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a stately example of Italianate design by Peter J. Barber, Santa Barbara's most prominent architect of the period. It is also tied to Thomas Hope, a wealthy rancher whose land became Hope Ranch Park. Unlike other Barber houses, it remains in its original setting with ranch outbuildings.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78000783, listed December 1, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 399 Nogal Dr., Santa Barbara |
|---|---|
| County | Santa Barbara County |
| Listed | December 1, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000783 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1875 |
| Architect / builder | Peter Barber (Peter J. Barber) |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored beginning in 1968 after being vacant, vandalized and condemned; furnished with Victorian pieces and opened to the public a few times each year. Horses are boarded on the property. |
| Acreage | 7.5 |
| Coordinates | 34.43458, -119.77157 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78000783.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q108919611
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.