About 100 years back, the Spanish Colonial revival style was founded in California by George Washington Smith. He left Harvard to become a businessman, and moved back to Santa Barbara to pursue his hobbies. But, he started designing for the city after learning the locals loved his work. The materials he used were brought over from Spain, and he mixed the new with the old. His designs are admired for their beauty and complexity. Smith is a recognized as a Santa Barbara founding father, and many generations of artists followed his lead. 

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