Our Mission: Preservation, Restoration, Education

Luther Burbank bought his 15-acre farm on Gold Ridge in 1885 in Sebastopol. During his career he introduced over 800 varieties of fruits, flowers, vegetables, and grains. He developed many of California's plums and prunes, the ancestor of the Idaho Potato, the Shasta Daisy, and novelties such as Plumcots, Thornless Blackberry, and Spineless Cactus. See Luther Burbank Biography

His home in Santa Rosa was primarily a showplace, but he developed and grew thousands of new hybrids, cross breeds and selections at his Experiment Farm in Sebastopol

After Luther died in 1926, Mrs. Burbank established an apple orchard on a portion of the Farm and leased the rest to Stark Brothers Nursery. When their lease expired in 1957 the property deteriorated and subsequently passed into new ownership.

Local historians, intent on preserving the Burbank legacy in Sebastopol, formed the Western Sonoma County Historical Society in 1974. The cottage was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

The City of Sebastopol worked with the Society in its efforts to obtain three acres of the original farm and to restore the Cottage. Restoration began in 1983. Since then the Society's Farm Committee with the aid of volunteers continues to maintain the cottage and Burbank plant varieties, provide a self-guiding plant walk and train Docents for guided tours. (Map)

Luther Burbank Cottage