Asbury Grove was founded in 1859
as a seasonal "Camp Meeting" ground, serving Methodist congregations from Boston and the North Shore. The location in Hamilton, Massachusetts was selected to beneft many who could not afford to travel to the popular but distant camp meetings on Martha's Vineyard and at Eastham. The Annual Camp Meeting Week, held each August, continues to be the core purpose of Asbury Grove. Today, Christians of many denominations participate in summer and year-round activities, finding opportunities for spiritual growth, fellowship, and recreation.
Throughout the 19th century, many open-air camp meeting grounds were established, and Asbury Grove became one of the largest. Newspaper accounts of the period reported that over 20,000 people attended services each summer in the peak years. Asbury Grove had its own train and trolley stations, providing connections from Boston.
Asbury Grove's initial "pitch tent" accommodations quickly drew into a charming village of Victorian cottages and community buildings on 83 wooded acres. These original structures and the natural landscape offer today's residents and visitors a window to the past, while providing a delightful setting for daily life and special events.
The National Register of Historic Places has listed Asbury Grove (Asbury Grove Historic District) in recognition of the religious, architectural, and cultural significance of its long history and strong heritage.