Asilomar Conference Grounds

{{Infobox NRHP

| name = Asilomar Conference Grounds

| nrhp_type = nhld

| image = Merrill_Hall_Asilomar edit1.jpg

| caption = Merrill Hall, Asilomar

| location = Asilomar Blvd., Pacific Grove, California

| coordinates = {{coord|36|37|11|N|121|55|53|W|display=inline,title}}

| locmapin = United States Monterey Peninsula#USA California

| nocat = yes

| map_caption = Location in the Monterey Peninsula

| built = 1913

| architect = Julia Morgan

| architecture = Arts and Crafts Movement and American craftsman Bungalows

| designated_nrhp_type = February 27, 1987{{cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1986&ResourceType=District|title=Asilomar Conference Grounds|accessdate=2008-02-18|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service|archive-date=November 14, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114222349/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1986&ResourceType=District|url-status=dead}}

| added = February 27, 1987

| area = {{convert|9|acre|abbr=on}}

| refnum = 87000823{{NRISref|version=2010a}}

| designated_other1 = California

| designated_other1_number = 1052

| designated_other1_date = June 20, 2014{{cite ohp|1052|Asilomar|2014-06-20}}

}}

Asilomar Conference Grounds is a conference center originally built for the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA). It is located on the western tip of the Monterey Peninsula in Pacific Grove, California, near what was formerly known as Moss Beach. Between 1913 and 1929, architect Julia Morgan designed 16 buildings on the property, 11 of which remain standing today.{{Cite web |url=http://www.visitasilomar.com/jmorgansinfluence.aspx |title=Julia Morgan's Influence |access-date=2008-07-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511204055/http://www.visitasilomar.com/jmorgansinfluence.aspx |archive-date=2008-05-11 |url-status=dead }} The area is recognized as the homeland of the Rumsen Ohlone people.

Name

The conference facilities were originally known as "Guardamar".{{cite web |url=https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/566/files/ASBCG_2017VG_v14_4web.pdf |title=Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds Visitor Guide |publisher=California State Parks |access-date=23 September 2024}} In 1913, Phoebe Hearst proposed a naming competition, resulting in the selection of "Asilomar." The winning entry was submitted by Helen Salisbury, a Stanford University student, who created a portmanteau from the Spanish words asilo ("refuge") and mar ("sea"). In 1956, Asilomar was incorporated into the California State Parks system, and Moss Beach was renamed Asilomar State Beach after the conference grounds.{{cite book |last=Robinson |first=Judith |title=The Hearsts: An American Dynasty |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kMuc9Lb-3mkC&pg=PA370 |page=370 |publisher=University of Delaware Press |year=1991 |isbn=0-87413-383-1}}

History

The YWCA Pacific Coast conferences were originally held at the Capitola, California hotel until 1911. Following growth in attendance and a desire to establish a permanent location, Phoebe Hearst hosted the 1912 conference at her hacienda in Pleasanton, California. Proceeds from that event were used to secure land for a permanent site. A committee persuaded the Pacific Improvement Company to donate {{convert|30|acre|m2}} to the YWCA in 1912. In early 1913, it was announced that Julia Morgan, then engaged with the Oakland YWCA building, would also design the new Asilomar campgrounds in the Arts & Crafts style. Construction began in the spring of 1913, and by August, the Social Hall and Longhouses were completed, hosting 300 girls for the inaugural summer program. Merrill Hall, Morgan’s final design for Asilomar, was dedicated in 1928.

Several other prominent California women including Ellen Browning Scripps, Mrs. Warren Olney Jr. and Mary Sroufe Merrill were involved in the creation of the retreat.[http://www.visitasilomar.com/CompleteStory.aspx Asilomar history]

In 1956, the State of California acquired Asilomar, and architect John Carl Warnecke was commissioned to design seven additional buildings to expand the grounds.[https://ohp.parks.ca.gov/pages/1067/files/CA_%20Monterey%20County_Asilomar%20Conference%20Grounds%20Warnecke.pdf Monterey County. Asilomar Conference Grounds] ohp.parks.ca.gov Asilomar was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987 for its role in women's recreation, the development of the YWCA, and the resort heritage of nearby Monterey, California.{{Cite web| title = Asilomar Conference Grounds| work = National Historic Landmarks Quioklinks| publisher = National Park Service| url = http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1986&ResourceType=District| accessdate = 19 March 2012| archive-date = November 14, 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071114222349/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1986&ResourceType=District| url-status = dead}}{{Cite web |last=Charleton |first=James P. |date=September 27, 1984 |title=Asilomar Conference Grounds |url={{NHLS url|id=87000823}} |accessdate=19 May 2012 |work=National Register of Historic Places – Inventory Nomination Form |publisher=National Park Service |format=pdf}}{{Cite web | title = Asilomar Conference Grounds | work = Photographs | publisher = National Park Service

| url = {{NHLS url|id=87000823|photos=y}} | format = pdf | accessdate = 19 May 2012}}

File:Merrill Hall.jpg

File:Social_Hall.jpg

File:Social_Hall_2.jpg

File:Asilomar chapel.jpg

File:Crocker Dining Hall.jpg

File:Crocker Dining Hall 2.jpg

Present Day

Today, the property is officially known as Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds and is operated by California State Parks. While it primarily functions as a conference center, it also welcomes individual guests and is frequently used for social events such as family reunions. The grounds remain open to the public. Between 1956 and 1994, the site was managed by various nonprofit organizations in collaboration with California State Parks. Delaware North Companies operated the facility from 1997 to 2007, after which Aramark took over operations in 2009 under a 20-year contract.{{Cite web |url=http://www.visitasilomar.com/asilomartoday.aspx |title=Asilomar Today |access-date=2009-07-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015184124/http://visitasilomar.com/asilomartoday.aspx |archive-date=2008-10-15 |url-status=dead }}

To maintain its rustic charm, the rooms at Asilomar are free of telephones and televisions, although Wi-Fi has been added.

In 2012, construction began to improve the site's accessibility in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. These renovations, which continued through 2014, included replacing old asphalt pathways with brick pavers and improving accessibility to several buildings.

File:Lobby at the Asilomar Conference Grounds.jpg

File:Cypress-building-guest-room-at-Asilomar-grounds-CA.jpg

Notable conferences

1972 Experimental Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Conference{{cite web|url=http://enc-conference.org/portals/0/ENCHighlights.pdf|title=Highlights from 50 ENCs|accessdate=2019-04-30|archive-date=March 31, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331151855/http://www.enc-conference.org/Portals/0/ENCHighlights.pdf|url-status=dead}}
1975: Asilomar Conference on Recombinant DNA
1994: Critical Assessment of Techniques for Protein Structure Prediction (inaugural meeting)
2010: Asilomar International Conference on Climate Intervention Technologies
1969–2012: West Coast Number Theory
2014: International Commission on the History of Geological Sciences
2017: Asilomar Conference on Beneficial AI[https://futureoflife.org/bai-2017/ Future of life]
2025: Natural Capital Project[https://naturalcapitalproject.stanford.edu/ Natural Capital Project]

In popular culture

The Asilomar Conference Grounds were featured in the film The Shift (2009) by Wayne Dyer, which was shot on location at Asilomar State Beach.{{Cite web |url=http://sumnerdavenport.com/ambition-to-meaning.htm |title=Ambition To Meaning |access-date=2011-07-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304233803/http://sumnerdavenport.com/ambition-to-meaning.htm |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.dyermovie.com/about/cast|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222030536/http://www.dyermovie.com/about/cast|url-status=dead|title=The Movie|archive-date=22 February 2014|access-date=14 May 2023}}

The 1975 Asilomar Conference on Recombinant DNA was prominently featured in the PBS documentary The Gene: An Intimate History.