Pacific Grove: Chautauqua by the Sea

Chautauqua gathering at the turn of the last century

The State of California’s Historic Resources Department on July 20, 1970

honored the City with a bronze plaque in front of Chautauqua Hall, now an official

state historic site. The plaque contains this language:

The first Chautauqua in the west was organized at Pacific Grove in 1879 for the

presentation of “moral attractions” and the highest grade of concerts and

entertainments.” Known world- wide as “Chautauqua by the Sea,” made Pacific

Grove an unequalled cultural center.

So what is a Chautauqua? It means different things depending on who is hosting

it. The movement started on the shores of Lake Chautauqua in upstate New York

as a Methodist Sunday- school teacher retreat. The idea was to allow teachers to

share new ideas and have a bit of fun on the lake. This was within the strict

confines of the Methodist Church rules, of course.

Most of the sessions were held outside. Outside venues have continued in the

Chautauqua movement to this day. This type of retreat was immediately a very

popular event and the idea of having what became known as a Chautauqua, a time

to share ideas and entertainment of all sorts, rapidly spread throughout the country.

The range of subjects covered under the umbrella of the term Chautauqua was

varied and changed as our young nation approached the new century. President

Teddy Roosevelt visited the Chautauqua in New York, still an annual event there

to this day, and commented then that it was, “the most American of festivals in its

celebration of various points of view and cultures. President Franklin Roosevelt

also visited the Chautauqua in upstate New York some twenty years later and was

similarly impressed. Later presidents have been visitors there as well.

Chautauqua became wildly popular as the new century brought new ideas and

unique approaches to education, religion, dance, art and entertainment. Weeks of

Chautauqua all around the country, more and more became panoply of interesting

events and a sampling of various cultures and schools of thought.

And yes, the national Chautauqua movement had its west coast headquarters

right her in Pacific Grove. Many events were held outside. Benches were set up in

what is now Jewell Park to hear from speakers holding forth on all manner of

subjects. See photo below. And of course events were held in Chautauqua Hall.

Some of the talks were religious in nature but some were not. The great thinkers

of the day, at least a few of them, spoke at these festivals which attracted visitors

from all over the state.

After the First World War when the nation was experiencing the Great Depression,

the Chautauqua movement died down. It is still being celebrated in New York, as

well as in other locations throughout the United States. It never became popular

outside of the United States and has always been known as a strictly American

celebration.

(See Between the Pines… opinion by Susan Goldbeck as suggesting we look into

bringing back a week of Chautauqua as a replacement of the now defunct Feast

of Lanterns.)

Its August! Naked ladies are popping up all over town!

Its August! Naked ladies are popping up all over town!