To settlers in the late 18th century, the switchbacks on what is now Route
20 were reminiscent of the ladder to heaven depicted in the Bible, and so they named the road Jacob's Ladder. Finding this cushion shaped rock on their farmland more than two centuries ago, the Carter family furthered the allusion by naming their homestead Jacob's Pillow and Ted Shawn kept the name when he bought this "certain place" in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts in 1931.
This has long been an important ceremonial location on the Pillow grounds, and Executive and Artistic Director Ella Baff welcomes performing companies and students of The School here each week during the Festival.
Jacob's Pillow Rock
"There is the quality of the performances of course. But there are also the bucolic grounds of this Berkshires retreat, along with the ever-present aura of dance history."
- John Rockwell, The New York Times
