The Stow House was built in c. 1872 by Sherman P. Stow (1851-1907). Stow was the son of William W. Stow (1825-1895), an influential San Francisco railroad attorney who in 1871 purchased 1,043 acres of La Patera Tract land in Goleta where his son could establish and manage a ranch. The Carpenter Gothic Style structure is believed to have been designed by Frank Walker, a Bay Area architect.
It was home to Sherman and his wife, Ida G. Stow (1851-1927), and their six children. Sherman built the Rancho La Patera into a very successful operation by pioneering in the development of commercial lemon growing and agricultural irrigation in the Goleta Valley. Under his stewardship Stow Lake was first enlarged and numerous ranch structures were erected, including the four buildings located behind the Stow House. Subsequent Stow family descendants lived in the house and managed the ranch until 1966. The Goleta Valley Historical Society has cared for the house since 1967. The Stow House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
