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Livermore Cabin Restoration Volunteers
April 21 - May 10
Jaw-dropping views of California’s Big Sur coast await all those who answer the call to preserve the Livermore Cabin for a week of enchantment south of Monterey!
Big Sur of California’s central coast is a weaving oceanside dropping down from the Santa Lucia Mountains that hug the majestic Highway 1 running from Carmel to San Simeon. Our project at the Livermore Cabin lies just inside the John Little Natural Reserve, a small but very special unit of California State Parks’ Monterey District that is otherwise closed to public access.
The Livermore Cabin shares an interesting history as a mid 1800s pioneer style cabin built in 1917 at the request of Beth Livermore who originally came to Big Sur in the 1910s by way of Marin County, calling her property “Rancho Para Todos,” meaning “Ranch For Everyone.” Beth would ultimately be known as a conservationist for her love the Big Sur coast and her directive for the creation of the John Little Natural Reserve following her untimely death in the 1950s. The John Little Natural Reserve was named after Beth’s longtime friend John Little and runs from Lime Creek south encompassing the cabin.
Just north of the cabin is the now world-famous Esalen Institute featuring spiritual workshops and massage, but most notably hot springs which were formally known as the Slate Hot springs and at one point owned by John Little whom was an early homesteader in the area. Today, the Esalen Institute is a major stop for Big Sur recreationists seeking to pair their ventures with the healing offerings of the institute.
HistoriCorps is proud to engage volunteers in the preservation of the Livermore Cabin in partnership with California State Parks. To learn more about the the John Little State Natural Reserve please visit California State Parks’ Website.
SESSION DATES: April 21-26, April 28 – May 3, and May 5-10
Please plan to arrive at the campsite no earlier than 5pm and no later than 7pm on the first day of your session.
LOCATION: Located 45 miles south of Monterey along the Big Sur coast!
HistoriCorps is committed to educating and training volunteers in preservation skills, with an overarching mission of inspiring a preservation ethic in all those involved. Learning and working alongside expert HistoriCorps field staff, volunteers and applying the traditional skills necessary to restore the Livermore Cabin:
- Repair and replace the redwood shake roof
- Repair the cabin deck, including framing, railing, and stairs
- Install temporary framing to shore up the eave wall of the kitchen
- Repair and replace deteriorated siding, trim, and shutters
- If time allows, replace and repair deteriorating framing and flooring in the kitchen