Gold Ridge Farm
Also known as: Luther Burbank's Experimental Farm and Cottage
Why it's listed
Three acres of Luther Burbank's original 18-acre experimental farm survive on Bodega Avenue, about a mile west of central Sebastopol. Burbank bought the land in 1885 and worked there until his death in 1926, raising fruit, nut and ornamental plants in closely spaced beds, with single trees bearing hundreds of grafted varieties. The Santa Rosa plum and Shasta daisy were developed on the property. After his death Stark Bros. Nurseries cataloged his experiments, and later the rest of the farm became an apple ranch and then senior housing. The nominated remnant holds a small hip-roofed wood cottage, now boarded up and badly deteriorated, along with about 58 trees and shrubs, including a Royal walnut and a white birch that Burbank planted. The barn burned in 1972. The site was nominated for its link to Burbank's contributions to agriculture, economics and education, and a rehabilitation master plan has proposed restoring it.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the site matters entirely for Luther Burbank's use of it from 1885 to 1926. His plant-breeding work there, including the Santa Rosa plum and Shasta daisy, contributed to agriculture and the nursery trade. It also influenced education, because visitors came to see his experiments and his work supported Darwin's theories.
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 78000803, listed December 14, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | W of Sebastopol, Sebastopol |
|---|---|
| County | Sonoma County |
| Listed | December 14, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000803 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1885-1926 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Education |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Unoccupied and unused; the cottage is in disrepair with doors and windows boarded up. The barn burned in 1972 and the office no longer exists. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 38.39754, -122.83482 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 78000803.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q1442657
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.