PG Meeting House

After the Civil War, small-town America looked forward to appearances by a variety of Touring Entertainments. A Circus, an Acting Troupe, a Vaudeville Show – all might come to town! Along with those, The Chautauqua Society would tour. Like an 1870’s live TED Talk, the Chautauquans would lecture on Self-Reliance, Personal Empowerment (especially for Woman – prominent Suffragettes were members and lecturers) – and Adult Education. When the West Coast Tour was done for the summer, they came to Pacific Grove, founded in 1875 after obtaining the land from David “Monterey” Jacks (yes, the Cheese is named after him). The Chautauquans would arrive, check their heavy canvas tents out from Chautauqua Hall (still at 17th & Central), and set them up in their designated spot to refresh for a couple of months by the ocean before heading back out. PG quickly established itself as unique – In between the Bohemian artists in Carmel and the lawless varmints and, by the 1900’s, the stinky canneries in Monterey, and, it’s no wonder that the locals would say “Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey-by-the-Smell and Pacific Grove by God.” We hope you enjoy our unique culture here at the tip of the Monterey Peninsula!