In a Castle Not So Far Away

Source: SK Staff

In a Castle Not So Far Away

by SweisKloss
Feb 20, 2020

If you drive north along the Pacific coast for about four hours—a loose approximation of LA driving time—from Santa Monica, you might think you are in the middle of seemingly nowhere. But you’ll find yourself in a small town called San Simeon with its picturesque shore to the west and rolling hills, albeit a bit barren, to the east. High atop one hill is the majestic Hearst Castle, conceived and built by William Randolph Hearst and designed by master architect Julia Morgan. This destination is a favorite among the SweisKloss staff because of its architecture and the opulent design and art. They unanimously agree that you truly feel like you are transported in time. SK Designer Amanda C. comments, “There are so many intricate details. And it was designed by a woman, which was not the norm for that time period.” While we could delve into the life and times of publishing and print media tycoon William Randolph Hearst, we indeed want to focus on Julia Morgan. She made a name for herself in architecture when it was unheard of to do so for a woman in the early 1900s. Julia Morgan was the first woman to gain entrance and receive a certificate in architecture at the prestigious Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Later she became the first female architect to be licensed by the state of California and opened her own firm in San Francisco. Through her design projects, she met Phoebe Apperson Hearst, the mother of William Randolph Hearst. She quickly earned the trust of William Randolph and was hired to be the master architect for the construction of his San Simeon retreat. She spent 28 years designing a castle inspired by Hearst’s European trips as a child but had added in her own style influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement. She personally designed the expansive grounds, structures, animal shelters, pools, and integrated Hearst’s vast art collection into the exterior areas. Ultimately, Hearst Castle was never built in its entirety, but Julia Morgan moved on to other projects, including Marion Davies’ beach house in Santa Monica, before retiring in the 1950s. Morgan was posthumously honored the Gold Medal from the American Institute of Architects in 2014. Another SK Staffer concludes, “Hearst Castle is not a typical museum. In the gift shop, they had a t-shirt that read: Every summer has a story. I think they should change it to ‘Every home has a story’ because Hearst Castle has a lot to say.”