HEARST CASTLE

YOU CAN GO ON A SELF GUIDED TOUR NOW AND GO THROUGH THE ESPLANADE , STROLL THROUGH THE GARDENS, RELAX ON ONE OF THE TERRACES AND SOAK IN THE VIEWS. OUR FAMILY USED TO GO TO THE HEARST CASTLE IN SAN SIMEON DURING CHRISTMAS AND GO TO SEVERAL OF THE STATE PARKS ON THE WAY DOWN AND STAY AT A CAMBRIA HOTEL WHERE THEY HAVE AN INDOOR POOL. WE ENJOYED DOING A FAMILY CHRISTMAS THERE AS THE CASTLE IS DECORATED IN MANY ROOMS.

MR. HEARST, BORN IN SAN FRANCISCO, HAD MANY GUESTS HERE DURING THE 1930'S. HIS ARCHITECT, JULIA MORGAN, WORKED COLLABORATIVELY TO CREATE THIS HUGE GARDEN ESTATE OVERLOOKING THE OCEAN. JUST SOUTH OF BIG SUR.. SHE DESIGNED THE ROMAN INDOOR POOL WITH MOSAIC TILE ON THE FLOOR. MANY MOVIE STARS SWAM HERE. SHE ALSO DESIGNED A LARGE OLYMPIC LOOKING NEPTUNE OUTDOOR POOL WITH FULL SIZE MARBLE SCULPTURES OF CHILDREN AND BIRDS AND PILLARS.

HEARST CAME FROM A RICH FAMILY THAT HAD ACQUIRED MONEY FROM MINING. HE TOURED EUROPE WITH HIS FAMILY AT A YOUNG AGE. AND HE DECIDED HE LOVED THE CASTLES HE SAW THERE AND DREAMED OF CREATING ONE IN THE US. HE WENT TO HARVARD AND EXCELLED IN JOURNALISM. HE DECIDED TO ACQUIRE SEVERAL NEWSPAPERS TO MANAGE. AT HIS PEAK HE OWNED OVER 2 DOZEN NEWSPAPERS HOLDING NATIONWIDE. LIKE MANY OF HIS FRIENDS HE AMASSED A GREAT QUANTITY OF ART COLLECTIONS FROM EUROPE AND AROUND THE WORLD. THESE WERE MUSEUM LIKE PIECES. HE HAD FIVE CHILDREN AND DIED WHEN HE WAS 88. HIS GRANDSON IS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE HEARST CORPORATION.

THEY HAVE A THEATRE HERE WHERE THEY GIVE INTERPRETIVE TOURS OF THE PROPERTY. THEY HAVE ABOUT 700,00 TOURS PER YEAR.

HEARSTCASTLE.ORG