Sharing the Story of Filoli

Spring 2018 Edition

We are pleased to share our newest training program, Sharing the Story of Filoli. Even our long-time Docents will delight in the new information, pictures and stories included in this program. You complete this course at your own pace, choosing the time and location that works best for your schedule.

All of us on property should greet and welcome our visitors, ensuring they understand how to best access and engage with the House, Garden, Collections, and Programs. At the end of this training program you will be prepared to answer visitor questions about the history of the estate. After all, we all share Filoli's history with our guests, whether we are working in the Visitor Center, Cafe, Garden, Administration Building, or even out on the Trails.

During this course you will learn the history of the Bourn and Roth families; both before, during, and after, their time at Filoli. You will explore the concepts and designs that led to the creation of Filoli House and Garden, as well as the talented architects and designers that brought the Bourns' vision to life. You will learn about the Roth family's spirit of stewardship that carried Filoli forward through the decades and ultimately led to Mrs. Roth's gift to the community. Over the last forty years, Filoli has continued to grow and evolve. During this course you will also learn about Filoli's current mission and related programming.

Note: All new House & Garden Docents are required to complete a similar course as part of their training program, but they should access their class through the link provided to them by Tucker Foltz, our Lead Interpreter, and their Docent Training Coordinator. Current Filoli Volunteers interested in becoming a Docent are now welcome to join the training program year-round! There are additional requirements for Docent Training including tailgating, mentoring, and certification.

Thank you for your support of Filoli.


Your Instructor


Julie Bly DeVere
Julie Bly DeVere

Prior to joining Filoli in 2011, Julie managed the collections of a number of South Bay museums while spending her winters working on expedition in Abydos, Egypt. She holds a B.A. in Art History from Sonoma State University, and a M.A. in Museum Studies from San Francisco State University; where she is also an adjunct lecturer and faculty member in the Museum Studies Program. Julie is also a long-term member of the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and the California Association of Museums. She also volunteers on two boards, the Historic House & Site Network (AAM-HHS) and the Bay Area Art Conservation Guild (BAACG).

Julie fell for Filoli during her first visit in 2007. Although her first love is the House and Collections, you will often find her photographing the Garden in the evenings. She is a Bay Area native. When not at Filoli, you are likely to find her in yoga class or jumping out of perfectly good airplanes.


Course Curriculum


  Filoli: Family Home, Historic Garden, Living Museum
Available in days
days after you enroll

Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
What if I still have questions at the end of the course?
It is likely a guarantee you will have questions at the end of the course. You can email your questions to [email protected] A member of the Collections & Interpretation team will get back to you.

Get started now!