Similar in grandeur and historical significance to such properties as the Getty Villa, Hearst Castle and Sunnylands, the Solana Estate, built by Frederick Forest Peabody in 1916, has served as a private residence as well as the site for the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions.
As host of the prominent American think tank from 1958 to 1978, the estate was visited by dignitaries and celebrities including John F. Kennedy, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Cesar Chavez and Henry Kissinger — to name a few.
More recently, an extensive renovation by owners Bill and Sandi Nicholson saw the estate restored to its original beauty while updating the property with modern technology and amenities.
Address: 256 Eucalyptus Hill, Santa Barbara, 93108
Price: $39 million
Built: 1914
Lot size: 491,792 square feet
House size: 22,000 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 16 bathrooms;
Guest houes size: 1,685 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Features: Original 1914 Gladding McBean terra cotta surround entry, antique French crystal and bronze chandeliers, a wood façade in the reception area that once belonged to William Randolph Hearst, terrace with reflecting pond, entry foyer with antique Portugese tiles, formal library with coffered ceilings, 16th century Count Rumford fireplace, master suite with 18th century French limestone fireplace and antique crystal chandelier, closets designed by White House wardrobe designer Programme Martine, cabana with cedar-lined sauna and 16th century Italian fountain head, 486-square-foot wine room, formal rose garden, multiple terraces with ocean and mountain views, lily pond, art studio, lath outdoor house, fruit trees, turtle pond, statuary, swimming pool, motor court
About the area: The median sale price for single-family homes in the 93108 ZIP Code in April was $3.35 million, based on 14 sales, according to CoreLogic. That was a 30.9% increase in median price compared with April 2015.
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