Hearst Castle

Hearst Castle, formally La Cuesta Encantada, rose from the Hearst family’s San Simeon ranch, first acquired by George Hearst in 1865 and vastly expanded before William Randolph Hearst inherited it in 1919. Working closely with architect Julia Morgan, Hearst developed the hilltop estate from 1919 into the postwar years, combining Morgan’s design skill with his wealth, ambition, and extensive collecting of European architectural elements and art. The estate became both a grand residence and a celebrated social center for prominent figures from Hollywood, politics, and literature. Donated to California in 1958, it is now a major historic park, museum, and preserved landscape.

California · United States