Asilomar Conference Grounds

Infobox_nrhp | name =Asilomar Conference Grounds
nrhp_type =nhl

---

caption = Merrill Hall, Asilomar
location= 800 Asilomar Avenue, Pacific Grove, California, USA
locmapin = California
area = 107 acres [ [http://www.visitasilomar.com/ParkInfo.aspx Asilomar Park Information] ]
lat_degrees = 36
lat_minutes = 37
lat_seconds = 11
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 121
long_minutes = 55
long_seconds = 53
long_direction = W
locmapin = California
built =1913
architect= Julia Morgan
architecture= Arts and Crafts, Bungalow
designated= February 27, 1987cite 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]
added = February 27, 1987cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]
governing_body = State
refnum=87000823

Asilomar Conference Grounds, also known as refuge by the sea, is a conference center built for the YWCA in 1913 in Pacific Grove, California. Julia Morgan designed and built 16 of the buildings on the property, of which 11 are still standing. [ [http://www.visitasilomar.com/jmorgansinfluence.aspx Julia Morgans influence] ] It became part of Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds in 1955.

History

In 1911, the hotel that the Western YWCA leadership had been using for yearly retreats burned down. Phoebe Apperson Hearst hosted the 1912 conference at one of her estates. She persuaded the Pacific Improvement Company to lease 30 acres to the YWCA in 1912.

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

The winning entry in the naming contest was by Helen Salisbury, a Stanford student. Her entry created a portmanteau from two Spanish words: and .

The retreat was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987 for its role in the development of the YWCA and the resort nature of nearby Monterey, California [ [http://www.nr.nps.gov/writeups/87000823.nl.pdf NHL Summary] ]

Today

In 1955, the grounds became part of the larger California state park known as Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds. The property is currently used as a conference center open to the public.

References

External links

* [http://www.visitasilomar.com/ Official Site]