Kenny Slaught reflects on the keen eye and overall artistic excellence George Washington Smith brought to Santa Barbara. It has been almost 100 years since the famous architect inspired the California movement called the Spanish Colonial revival. He actually dropped out of Harvard to work as a bond trader. Once he became a successful businessman, he moved to the Santa Barbara region expecting a relaxing lifestyle and planning to work on his painting abilities. What happened next surprised him. Everyone loved the house he had designed and other Californians wanted him to continue creating architectural gems for them. Known as a founding father of Santa Barbara, generations of architects have mirrored his style for years keeping the Spanish Colonial style alive.