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The picturesque mountain property that is today known as the
Ralston White Retreat in Mill Valley, California, was originally
presented as a wedding gift from Ralston White to his bride, Ruth
Boericke, in 1910. Designed by the celebrated San Francisco
architect Willis Polk, the grand house was erected between 1911 and
1915, when Polk was also the supervising architect of the
Panama-Pacific International Exposition. Construction materials had
to be transported by the Mount Tamalpais railroad to then-remote
wilderness site, which afforded panoramic views of the mountain and
the San Francisco Bay Area. White developed the grounds to include a
heart-shaped lawn, orchards, trails through the woods, meadows, and
a natural creek-fed swimming pool. He named their home the “Garden
of Allah,” after a novel popular at the time.
After Ralston White’s death, his widow wished the Garden of Allah to
be dedicated to charitable endeavors as a memorial to her husband.
To that end, Ruth White deeded the property in 1951 in trust
initially to the California Academy of Sciences, which later
transferred the Retreat in 1957 to the United Church of Christ, as
trustee. For nearly a half-century since, the Church maintained the
property, and the Retreat served its mission by hosting retreats,
conferences and other events for educational, charitable and
spiritual groups.
Over the decades, many – including teachers, academic faculty,
church groups, local leaders and research physicians from around the
world – have enjoyed visits to this distinctive Marin County
property and its spectacular natural setting. It is a peaceful place
that helps to reinvigorate individuals and strengthen the bonds of
humanity by providing a retreat where people share and exchange
ideas, find spiritual solace and reaffirm a sense of community.
See Reservation Information
See Our 360 Degree Virtual Gallery Tour
See Our Photo gallery
In order to better provide for the long-term future of the Retreat,
the United Church of Christ after an extensive search process
selected the newly-formed Ralston White Retreat Foundation as a
successor trustee for the property in 2005. |
