By Theresa-Marie Wilson
The volunteers and community members who have worked tirelessly for the past 13 years to preserve a piece of local history were recognized by the state for their efforts with the Rancho Nipomo Dana Adobe Historic Park.
The Dana Adobe Nipomo Amigos, commonly known as DANA, were the recipients of the Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation for 2015.
The award is the only official preservation award presented by the State of California to recognize outstanding achievements in the field of historic preservation.
“This is the hardest working group of individuals that I think I have ever come across,” said District 4 Supervisor Lynn Compton at a recent Board of Supervisors meeting. “They are all dedicated to a cause. They work tirelessly.”
The 130-acre park rests on a portion of the 37,888-acre rancho granted to Nipomo’s founder Captain William Goodwin Dana in 1837 by the Mexican government. He began building his main house on the hill in 1839 where it sits today. Remains of the original barn still remain on the property as does what may be one of the only restored tallow vat and rendering cauldrons dating back to the 1840s in the entire state.
The state award recognizes the restoration work done on the 13 room, 2-story adobe.
“DANA is very proud and honored by the Board of Supervisor’s resolution,” said Executive Director of DANA Marina Washburn. “The resolution recognizes the hard work our community dedicated to restore the Dana Adobe and achieving recognition from the State, as awardees of the Governors Historic Preservation Award. This award is a great honor for DANA and our Central Coast Community.”
In 2016, organizers are slated to break ground on yet another project on a 29-acre parcel on the site.
“It will transform the 130 acres surrounding the Dana Adobe into the focal point of dynamic community-centered programming,” Washburn said. “DANA’s new park site will include a 4,500 square-foot educational facility, a Chumash Indian interpretive area, over a mile of walking trails on the property, an interpretive barn, a Early California Rancho Dana Adobe, and a restored 1880s security building. Our park site will encourage the community to build connections between culture, nature, and each other.”
The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors recently recognized the non-profit organization with a resolution that read in part, “The Dana successfully achieved its initial mission of restoring the historic Dana Adobe, and has expanded its mission to implement its park development plan; and Dana Cultural Center engages visitors with the stories of California’s Rancho Era history, connecting them with the peoples, the land and its resources to foster environmental stewardship and cultural understanding.”
District 1 Supervisor Franck Mecham added to the accolades.
“I have visited the Adobe on several occasions, and I encourage anybody that loves California history to go there,” he said. “You guys have done an incredible job.”
The Dana Adobe is on the National Register of Historic Places and the Save America’s Treasures Site. In October of this year, the DANA Cultural Center was awarded the Spokes Medal of Merit Award for the “success of its board of directors and staff in accomplishing the organization’s initial mission and setting dramatic new goals for the organization’s long-term growth and development.”
Spokes for Nonprofits is a local organization that provides nonprofits with management training, consulting and resources
For more information, visit www.danaadobe.org.
