Airlie Conference Center

Historical hotel building in Airlie, VA

Airlie Conference Center

Former names|

* Airlie
* Airlie Hotel
* Airlie Center

General information
Architectural style|

* Georgian Revival
* Colonial Revival

Town or city| Airlie, Virginia, US
Year(s) built| 1899
Renovated|

* 1924
* 1961

Owner| American University
Technical details
Floor area| 18,570 square feet (1,725 m2)
Grounds| 300 acres
Design and construction
Architect(s)|

* Harry Connelly Groom
* Dr. Murdoch Head

Other information
Number of rooms| 150
Number of suites| 14
References
"Meetings at Airlie". www.virginia.org. Retrieved 2024-04-24.

The Airlie Conference Center, commonly referred to simply as Airlie, is a historic hotel outside of Warrenton, Virginia.[1] The compound is best known for having become a safe space for dialogue during the US civil rights movement, and as the origin of Earth Day.[2]

## History

[edit]

### Original estate 1899-1958

[edit]

In the 1890s, socialite Harry Connelly Groom moved from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Fauquier County, Virginia. There he purchased land to build a manor from Adeline h. Edmonds.[2] Groom named the estate the "Airlie House," after a Scottish castle.[2]

In 1924, a fire and accompanying structural accident caused damage throughout the building.[3] Because of this, Groom renovated the house through the 1930s.[2][1][3] After his death, his daughter Susan Groom Harney inherited the estate.[2]

### Modern building 1959-1970

[edit]

Harney sold the home to Dr. Murdoch Head in 1959, who embarked on a series of renovations to create a hotel and conference facility.[2] The renamed "Airlie Center," opened in 1961 with a variety of new programs held at the facility including environmental research, public health, and education.[1][2]

In 1962, Life Magazine dubbed the Airlie Center an "island of thought" to which professionals could retreat without distractions.[3][2] That year, the NAACP hosted its first annual civil rights conference at Airlie.[3][4] Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited Airlie later in the 1960s.[2][3]

In 1969, Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson sponsored a conference at Airlie to promote Earth Day, a then new holiday he created with U.S. Representative Pete McCloskey.[2][3]

### 1971-present

[edit]

Democratic Congressmembers meeting at Airlie, July 13, 1975

During the 1980s a film company named Airlie Productions operated at the center.[2] The company produced over 250 documentaries and won three Emmy's.[5]

In 1988, more than 150 LGBTQ individuals attended The War Conference to promote human rights. The purpose of this conference was to increase support from legislators and civil rights organizations.[5]

In 2014, the Airlie Hotel opened to the public for the first time in its history.[3] The next year, Airlie was inducted into the Historic Hotels of America.[2]

Entrance to the Airlie Conference Center

In 2016, the Airlie Foundation entrusted American University with stewardship of the property.[1]

## Conception of Earth Day

[edit]

Senator Nelson was inspired by the Vietnam anti-war movement to promote environmental conservation.[2] He and Representative McCloskey gave a speech at Airlie in 1969 to establish a new holiday, "Earth Day," to promote their environmental conservationist ideals.[3][4] Earth Day would eventually become a well-established international holiday.[1][4]

In 1993, Senator Nelson planted a tree at Airlie to commemorate their 1969 meeting that promoted the Earth Day holiday.[4]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e "AU at Airlie". American University. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Historic Hotels In Virginia | Airlie House History". Historic Hotels Worldwide. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
3. ^ a b c d e f g h "About Airlie | Airlie Hotel in Warrenton". Airlie Conference Center. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
4. ^ a b c d Murillo, Mike (2024-04-22). "Earth Day's origins trace back to this Northern Virginia estate". WTOP News. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
5. ^ a b Patricia, Anderson (2020-04-08). "But Did You Know…Airlie & The Origins of Earth Day". www.virginia.org. Retrieved 2024-04-24.