History
About Our Origins
The Beacon House, founded over half a century ago, was the first 12-step residential treatment center in the western states and is one of the oldest centers in the country. It was founded by Mary Clark Ross, an alcoholism educator, and Dr. Donald Taugher. Mary had worked for years with Marty Mann, the president and founder of the National Council on Alcoholism and an important early advocate for alcoholism treatment. Marty Mann was the first documented sober woman in Alcoholics Anonymous, and the 12-step approach remains an integral part of our program.
We received significant early financial support from Samuel F.B. Morse, who founded nearby Pebble Beach resort and is a famous philanthropist and visionary. We are able to continue to flourish as a non-profit thanks to the generous support of our donors and alumni.
With over half a century of treatment experience, we are well positioned to continue our recovery commitments both during and after treatment. Beyond our day-to-day work with our clients, we are also at work funding a center for the advancement of innovative treatment solutions. Through our Advisory Board we are bringing the world’s innovative thinkers to the Monterey Peninsula to share the latest advances in research and medical science, and are looking forward to contributing to the evolving field of addiction treatment.
About the House
The Beacon House is truly in a unique location - just steps from the grandeur of the Monterey Bay, the world famous Monterey Bay Aquarium and near the gate of the famous Pebble Beach 17-Mile. The Beacon House has occupied a Victorian-era mansion since 1961. The actual house was originally built in 1902 as the residence of a banker named J.J. Osborne, who made it a showpiece on the Monterey Peninsula. The house was designed by one of California’s famous architects, William H. Weeks. The architect mixed Colonial Revival detailing with late Victorian styles in his own creative way. The paned oval windows on the second story with their “spiked” decorative devices are one of the trademarks of Mr. Weeks’s designs.
In 1961, through the benevolence of Samuel F.B. Morse (founder of Pebble Beach golf course and a distant cousin to the telegraph inventor who shares his name), we were able to acquire this house for the benefit of generations of clients seeking help.
After half a century, we continue to provide extraordinary addiction treatment at competitve prices. Our fabled origins, famous house and the extraordinary nature of the Monterey Peninsula offers our clients a truly unique stepping stone to a lifetime of recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.
