Hearst Castle’s history begins in 1865, when George Hearst purchased 40,000 acres of ranchland. After his mother’s death in 1919, William Randolph Hearst inherited thousands of acres around San Simeon, and over time, he purchased more. The spread eventually encompassed about 250,000 acres. With architect Julia Morgan, Hearst conceived a retreat he called La Cuesta Encantada—Spanish for “Enchanted Hill.” By 1947, when Hearst had to leave the remote location because of his fragile health, the estate was still unfinished even though it comprised 165 rooms and 123 acres of gardens, terraces, pools and walkways—all built to Hearst’s specifications and showcasing a legendary art collection.
By 1947, William Randolph Hearst and Julia Morgan had created an estate of 165 rooms and 127 acres of gardens, terraces, pools, and walkways. Among the most notable areas are the main house or Casa Grande, outdoor Neptune Pool, Indoor Roman Pool, historic private zoo, expansive pergola, and tennis courts.
Among the acres of gardens are the serene formal garden areas, a mosaic of diverse landscaping and statuary from Hearst’s vast art collection, thoughtfully designed by Julia Morgan.
Many people made this estate the California landmark that it is known as today. These people range from its visionary William Randolph Hearst, architect Julia Morgan, William Randolph Hearst’s parents, George and Phoebe Apperson Hearst, to his wife, Millicent Hearst, and longtime companion, Marion Davies. The many famous guests who spent time at the estate add the allure of celebrity to its history. Besides actors, politicians, and other historical figures, the unsung heroes of the estate contributed greatly to its architecture, landscape design, guest experience, day-to-day function, and much more.
This great museum is filled with Egyptian, Greek, and Roman antiquities – along with Old Master European paintings, sculptures, and decorative art; Chinese and Near Eastern art; and about thirty historic carved and painted ceilings from Renaissance Italy and Spain. Dozens of Art Deco items round out this astonishing collection.
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"Hearst Castle", "Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument", "La Cuesta Encantada," and "The Enchanted Hill" are registered trademarks of Hearst Castle®/California State Parks.