In 1975, when Lurline Roth donated Filoli to the National Trust for Historic Preservation she said, “I have always felt that such a place should be preserved …and made a center of horticulture and cultural activities.” Today Filoli, which is stewarded by the Filoli Center, is a place of—as Kara Newport, president and CEO of Filoli stated—beauty, nature, and stories. Those lucky enough to stroll along its gardens and trails experience inspiration, awe, and a sense of peace.
Located less than an hour outside San Francisco, Filoli gets its name its original owner William Bourn who took the first letters from his personal motto, “Fight for a just cause. / Love Your Fellow Man. / Live a Good Life.” Today the site which was constructed in 1917 has 654 property acres, 16 of which are house and gardens, containing 6 distinct ecosystems.
