Land at the Hilltop

Hearst Castle® Historian and Author Victoria Kastner Launches New Book and Hosts Intimate Hilltop Gathering

San Simeon, CA – In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Hearst Castle’s opening to the public, Victoria Kastner has released her newest book Hearst’s San Simeon: The Gardens and the Land (Abrams, 2009) and will share her insights at a book signing and wine reception on Saturday, May 9th, from 5:00 to 8:30 PM at the terrace below Casa Del Sol on the Castle grounds.

The book, which will be available at a special price, features Victoria Garagliano’s breathtaking photographs of the 120 acres of gardens that wind through the Castle grounds and the miles of pristine coastline surrounding the Castle. Kastner, a gifted speaker, shares the story of W.R. Hearst’s and Julia Morgan’s connection to the landscape of San Simeon and the influences from around the world that inspired their vision for the gardens. 

“The relationship between the gardens and the land symbolizes the remarkable collaboration between Julia Morgan and W.R. Hearst,” says Kastner. “We really cannot understand the Castle without understanding the location. In essence, I have been writing this story for the past 30 years, and it wasn’t until lecturing internationally that I realized the importance and relationship of the gardens and the land — the most significant components driving the collaborative efforts of Julia Morgan and W.R. Hearst. It is this spirit of the Hearst family and their attachment to the outdoors that the photographer, Victoria Garagliano, captured so exquisitely.”

The story of the gardens and land is examined for the first time in Kastner’s and Garagliano’s latest book and told at an extraordinary salon opportunity as part of Friends of Hearst Castle’s community education programs.

Friends of Hearst Castle’s CEO Carol Schreiber explains, “Hearst Castle is more than a magnificent structure in a dramatic setting, it is a living example of land conservation and stewardship. Friends welcomes the opportunity to open the book to the public, showcasing the splendor of the gardens and the beauty of the land.”  

This salon lecture continues a tradition created by W.R. Hearst’s mother Phoebe Apperson Hearst. “She would invite artists, lecturers and musicians to her home in hopes of enlightening and educating her guests,” says Schreiber. “We hope to enlighten, educate and entertain our guests as well. What better way to celebrate Mother’s Day weekend than Saturday evening at the hilltop — a bouquet of opportunities to learn, experience and share the enjoyment?”    

Book this May 9th event with the author and photographer of Hearst’s San Simeon: The Gardens and the Land. For more information visit friendsofhearstcastle.org or call the Friends office at (805) 927-2138 to purchase tickets. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Victoria Kastner has written and lectured about San Simeon’s land and buildings for nearly 30 years. She is author of Hearst Castle: The Biography of a Country House (Abrams, 2000), on which she collaborated with the photographer Victoria Garagliano. She has a master’s degree in public history with an emphasis in architectural history from the University of California at Santa Barbara, and a master’s degree in museum management from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER

Victoria Garagliano has photographed the Hearst estate - its gardens, architecture, art collection, ranchland, and dramatic coastal surroundings - since 1994. She is a graduate of Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara and previously worked in the film industry and as an independent photographer in Los Angeles.

Friends of Hearst Castle

Friends of Hearst Castle, a nonprofit cooperating association, supports preservation and interpretation of Hearst Castle, including its art, artifacts, architecture and grounds through membership, education, outreach and special events; enhancing understanding and appreciation and thereby enriching the visitor experience.

For Tour Reservations Please Call (800) 444-4445
Or online at www.hearstcastle.com

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