Asilomar Conference Grounds
The pin is a point inside the NPS boundary polygon, not a surveyed location.
Why it's listed
Asilomar Conference Grounds is a historic complex of 11 buildings set among dunes and Monterey pines beside the ocean in Pacific Grove, California. The Young Women's Christian Association established it in 1913 as its western conference and camp site, on land donated by the Pacific Improvement Company with strong support from Phoebe Apperson Hearst. Architect Julia Morgan designed every historic building, the entrance gates and the road plan between 1913 and 1928, using redwood shingles, split logs and rough granite in a rustic Craftsman style. Key structures include the Administration Building, Memorial Chapel, Crocker Dining Hall and Merrill Hall, once the largest auditorium on the Monterey peninsula. The YWCA sold the property to the State of California in 1956, and newer lodging and meeting buildings now surround the historic core. The grounds are valued for their association with women's recreation and leadership programs and as a major work by Morgan.
Significance in brief: The grounds are significant for their role in the YWCA's recreation and leadership work for women and in the development of the Monterey peninsula as a resort area. They are also notable as Julia Morgan's most celebrated complex in the rustic Craftsman mode. Morgan was one of the first women to achieve eminence in American architecture.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 87000823, listed February 27, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Asilomar Blvd., Pacific Grove |
|---|---|
| County | Monterey County |
| Listed | February 27, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000823 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1913-36 |
| Architect / builder | Julia Morgan |
| Architectural style | Rustic "Craftsman" |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated February 27, 1987 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as a conference center owned by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. Condition is good overall; Scripps Lodge needs restoration and the Hilltop garden has deteriorated. |
| Acreage | 9 |
| Coordinates | 36.61940, -121.93733 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 87000823.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2976485
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.