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Menlo Park has a reputation for housing many venture capitalist firms that have shaped much of the high-tech industry for decades.
However, Menlo Park also has something distinctively tranquil, which existed long before Sand Hill Road became known as the VC capital.
Near the corner of Cambridge Avenue and Arbor Road, bordering San Francisquito Creek, which divides Menlo Park from Palo Alto, is an oasis of artistic endeavor known as the Allied Arts Guild.
Once part of the 32,000-acre Rancho de Las Pulgas ranchero owned by the Arguello family, Allied Arts Guild sprouted its wings back in 1929.
Garfield and Delight Merner purchased 3.5 acres of land from Murray Farm, the then-owner. Their vision was to create an arts guild for local artists of renowned talent and foster folk art in a quiet and serene environment.
The lovely sprawling respite is full of pleasant walkways surrounded by lush garden settings.
They kept the original Murray Farm barn and several sheds, which helped with the overall construction. Most of the other buildings are Spanish Colonial in design, reminding us of how things looked in the days of the Arguello family.
Even the names of some of the gardens reflect the time of Spanish heritage. They include the Court of Abundance, the Cervantes Court and the Garden of Delight.
Many of the objects of art, as well as tiles, were sourced from Spain.
One of the most famous artists to grace the Guild is Ansel Adams, whose photographic work has long been breathtaking.
Renowned artist Maxine Albro created numerous mosaics and frescoes. Albro is also known for the murals on the Coit Tower in San Francisco.
The Guild offers patrons a splendid getaway from the peninsula’s hectic daily life. Among its many offerings include a quiet café, as well as a beautiful setting for weddings
The Merners retired from running the Guild in 1935, turning over duties to the Palo Alto Auxiliary.
Everything else is just history
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