Text by MIA BALDONADO and AVERY HANNA
Art by AVERY HANNA and SAMANTHA HO
ROOTS OF FILOLI SHARES HISTORICAL STORIES OF PERSEVERANCE
A
CROSS A GLISTENING pond and a field of bright tulips, lush wisteria climbs its way up a brick wall. A couple poses for a photo, a young girl dances across a pristinely pruned lawn and small groups of visitors stroll through the gardens, taking in another beautiful day at the Filoli Historic House and Garden in Woodside. At first glance, Filoli appears to be the epitome of peace and harmony — a picture-perfect paradise. However, Filoli’s latest exhibit, “Stories of Resilience,” acknowledged the estate’s history of racial exclusion and highlighted stories of minority groups that helped make Filoli what it is today. Throughout the house and garden, several signs were placed on display until May 23, addressing individuals of various roles and discussing excluded racial groups. The historic landmark has long been a favorite photo-op destination for Palo Alto High School students, but the recent exhibit has prompted them and the wider community to look deeper and explore the stories of those who left their mark on Filoli — and those who never had the chance. The exhibit is one of a variety of efforts Filoli has implemented to expand beyond its aesthetic value into the educational, according to Erika Frank, Filoli’s director of education and interpretation. Filoli’s founding In 1917, Filoli was created by William Bowers Bourn and Agnes Moody as a self-sustaining country estate. After they died in 1936, the Roth family purchased Filoli and worked to add to the garden’s beauty until they donated the house and garden to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The house and garden opened to the public in 1977.
40 JUNE 2021
The house now serves as a portal to the past, memorializing the story of the Bourns and Roths. Signs throughout the house provide snippets of insight into their world and their lives, but the house and the gardens encompassing it are built on the legacy of many more. “This place, it’s just a building, it’s just a garden until we start sharing the narratives of the people who created it, and stewarded it and continue working here,” Frank said. ‘Stories of Resilience’ The heavy, sweet scent of wisteria and its cascading purple flowers are defining elements of spring at Filoli. On our recent visit, a sign in the garden house shone light on their little-known history, introducing the stories of some of Filoli’s first horticulturists. The placard featured Toichi Domoto, whose family was one of the first in Northern California to commercially cultivate Japanese plants including wisteria, azaleas and camellias. In addition to highlighting their accomplishments, Filoli’s “Stories of Resilience” exhibit also recognizes the Domoto family’s plight as Japanese Americans during WWII. Domoto’s placard is the only one featured in the gardens, with the rest residing indoors. Upon entering the house, yellow arrows on the ground direct visitors into a short hallway where light turquoise walls and gold leaf ornamentation come into view. Stepping into the ballroom, guests are greeted with ornate chandeliers, intricate floor-to-ceiling murals and echoing jazz music. This room added an auditory element to the largely visual exhibit, inviting visitors to imagine what Filoli could have been with more contributions from the
