Stepping Stones - Historic Home of Bill & Lois Wilson (The Stepping Stones Foundation)

The Stepping Stones Foundation is a nonprofit, taxexempt organization dedicated to preserving the historic home and archives of Alcoholics Anonymous' co-founder Bill Wilson (1895-1971) and Al-Anon Family Groups' co-founder Lois Wilson (1891-1988), and to commemorating their legacy in the field of alcoholism recovery. The Wilsons moved to the Bedford, NY, property they named Stepping Stones in 1941, and cultivated AA and Al-Anon from this home base where they carried out service work, including writing/editing, organizing, and hosting guests from A.A. and Al-Anon fellowships as well as scholars and experts in the recovery field. At Stepping Stones Lois made a gallery of early A.A. memorabilia for their guests and future generations to experience. Lois Wilson founded The Stepping Stones Foundation in 1979. A 1984 seminar for leaders in the field of alcoholism recovery that she organized at Stepping Stones was a high point of her life. Lois' Family Groups Picnic in June is a tradition more than 65 years running. In 2012, Stepping Stones was designated a National Historic Landmark. With The Stepping Stones Foundation maintains the 8.5 acre site, including the home, gardens, Bill's writing studio, 15,000 objects, and an archive of 100,000+ items. Stepping Stones is in the hamlets of Katonah and Bedford Hills of the Town of Bedford in Northern Westchester, NY (an hour north of Manhattan). Guided tours by advance reservation are Mon.-Sat. at 1 p.m. Off-site presentations can be booked. These feature biographical material and photographs from the Archives (the Wilson's papers). The Foundation accepts tax-deductible donations of any amount for operations, preservation and maintenance of the grounds, archives, collections and structures from individuals, organizations, and grant making charities and government. On-site and off-site volunteer opportunities abound with Stepping Stones and range from leading tours to editing, design, and assistance with fundraising.