The Story of California’s Castle in the Middle of Nowhere, Told in 24 Photos

Daniel Bonfiglio Published 11/19/2024 in wow

If you're meandering your way along central California's coast, there's a good chance you'll run into a spectacular estate in San Simeon. Now a museum and landmark as part of California State Park, the Hearst Castle has more to it than meets the eye.

As told in 24 photos, here is the story of Hearst Castle, California's cast in the middle of nowhere.

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1.
The plot of land originally known as La Cuesta Encantada, or “The Enchanted Hill,” was given to William Randolph Hearst by his father George, and William had some big plans for it.
2.
Hearst Castle Guide Trainee class of 1991.
3.
The bell tower of the restored Mission San Miguel Arcángel, which stood before the Hearst family owned the land.
4.
“1947 Hearst Castle. Taken from my grandfather's plane.”

Using his immense fortune as a media tycoon - and significant inheritance - William decided to go big after the death of his mother Phoebe, and contracted the architect Julia Morgan to build "something a little more comfortable up on the hill." Morgan was one of the United States’ first independent female architects.
5.
Instead, Hearst used the castle to throw extravagant parties with his mistress, actress Marion Davies.
6.
William Randolph Hearst.

Hearst originally planned to live in the castle with his wife Millicent and five sons, but by the time the castle was functional in the 1920s, his marriage had ended.
7.
His parties were the place to be, and featured guests like Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant, the Marx Brothers, Buster Keaton, Jean Harlow, Clark Gable, Calvin Coolidge, and many more.
8.
March 27, 1933: George Bernard Shaw, Marion Davies, Louis B Mayer and Clark Gable. Colorized.
9.
Hearst party guests.
10.
The castle was under continual improvement and construction until 1947, with only a small break during World War II.
11.
Casa Grande, inspired by the Church of Santa María la Mayor, Ronda, Spain, forms the centerpiece of Hearst's estate.
12.
Due to his deteriorating health, Hearst left his castle for the final time with Davies in 1947, and died in 1951.
13.
The Hearst family still owns much of the larger estate, although the castle itself was donated to the state of California.
14.
Hearst and his castle were satirized in Citizen Kane, and his influence left a lasting mark on show business of the day.
15.
Near Hearst castle in San Simeon, California, there are free-roaming plains zebras, currently numbering around 125 individuals. These are the descendants of zebras that were kept in the Hearst zoo but were then released to roam the nearby grounds.
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Azure blue swimming pool in the Hearst Castle.
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24.
“My friend recently got banned from Hearst Castle. This is why.”

1.
The plot of land originally known as La Cuesta Encantada, or “The Enchanted Hill,” was given to William Randolph Hearst by his father George, and William had some big plans for it.
2.
Hearst Castle Guide Trainee class of 1991.
3.
The bell tower of the restored Mission San Miguel Arcángel, which stood before the Hearst family owned the land.
4.
“1947 Hearst Castle. Taken from my grandfather's plane.”

Using his immense fortune as a media tycoon - and significant inheritance - William decided to go big after the death of his mother Phoebe, and contracted the architect Julia Morgan to build "something a little more comfortable up on the hill." Morgan was one of the United States’ first independent female architects.
5.
Instead, Hearst used the castle to throw extravagant parties with his mistress, actress Marion Davies.
6.
William Randolph Hearst.

Hearst originally planned to live in the castle with his wife Millicent and five sons, but by the time the castle was functional in the 1920s, his marriage had ended.
7.
His parties were the place to be, and featured guests like Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant, the Marx Brothers, Buster Keaton, Jean Harlow, Clark Gable, Calvin Coolidge, and many more.
8.
March 27, 1933: George Bernard Shaw, Marion Davies, Louis B Mayer and Clark Gable. Colorized.
9.
Hearst party guests.
10.
The castle was under continual improvement and construction until 1947, with only a small break during World War II.
11.
Casa Grande, inspired by the Church of Santa María la Mayor, Ronda, Spain, forms the centerpiece of Hearst's estate.
12.
Due to his deteriorating health, Hearst left his castle for the final time with Davies in 1947, and died in 1951.
13.
The Hearst family still owns much of the larger estate, although the castle itself was donated to the state of California.
14.
Hearst and his castle were satirized in Citizen Kane, and his influence left a lasting mark on show business of the day.
15.
Near Hearst castle in San Simeon, California, there are free-roaming plains zebras, currently numbering around 125 individuals. These are the descendants of zebras that were kept in the Hearst zoo but were then released to roam the nearby grounds.
16.
17.
18.
19.
Azure blue swimming pool in the Hearst Castle.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
“My friend recently got banned from Hearst Castle. This is why.”

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1. The plot of land originally known as La Cuesta Encantada, or “The Enchanted Hill,” was given to William Randolph Hearst by his father George, and William had some big plans for it.

2. Hearst Castle Guide Trainee class of 1991.

3. The bell tower of the restored Mission San Miguel Arcángel, which stood before the Hearst family owned the land.

5. Instead, Hearst used the castle to throw extravagant parties with his mistress, actress Marion Davies.

6. William Randolph Hearst. Hearst originally planned to live in the castle with his wife Millicent and five sons, but by the time the castle was functional in the 1920s, his marriage had ended.

7. His parties were the place to be, and featured guests like Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant, the Marx Brothers, Buster Keaton, Jean Harlow, Clark Gable, Calvin Coolidge, and many more.

8. March 27, 1933: George Bernard Shaw, Marion Davies, Louis B Mayer and Clark Gable. Colorized.

9. Hearst party guests.

10. The castle was under continual improvement and construction until 1947, with only a small break during World War II.

11. Casa Grande, inspired by the Church of Santa María la Mayor, Ronda, Spain, forms the centerpiece of Hearst's estate.

12. Due to his deteriorating health, Hearst left his castle for the final time with Davies in 1947, and died in 1951.

13. The Hearst family still owns much of the larger estate, although the castle itself was donated to the state of California.

14. Hearst and his castle were satirized in Citizen Kane, and his influence left a lasting mark on show business of the day.

15. Near Hearst castle in San Simeon, California, there are free-roaming plains zebras, currently numbering around 125 individuals. These are the descendants of zebras that were kept in the Hearst zoo but were then released to roam the nearby grounds.

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19. Azure blue swimming pool in the Hearst Castle.

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24. “My friend recently got banned from Hearst Castle. This is why.”

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1.
The plot of land originally known as La Cuesta Encantada, or “The Enchanted Hill,” was given to William Randolph Hearst by his father George, and William had some big plans for it.

2.
Hearst Castle Guide Trainee class of 1991.

3.
The bell tower of the restored Mission San Miguel Arcángel, which stood before the Hearst family owned the land.

5.
Instead, Hearst used the castle to throw extravagant parties with his mistress, actress Marion Davies.

6.
William Randolph Hearst.

Hearst originally planned to live in the castle with his wife Millicent and five sons, but by the time the castle was functional in the 1920s, his marriage had ended.

7.
His parties were the place to be, and featured guests like Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant, the Marx Brothers, Buster Keaton, Jean Harlow, Clark Gable, Calvin Coolidge, and many more.

8.
March 27, 1933: George Bernard Shaw, Marion Davies, Louis B Mayer and Clark Gable. Colorized.

9.
Hearst party guests.

10.
The castle was under continual improvement and construction until 1947, with only a small break during World War II.

11.
Casa Grande, inspired by the Church of Santa María la Mayor, Ronda, Spain, forms the centerpiece of Hearst's estate.

12.
Due to his deteriorating health, Hearst left his castle for the final time with Davies in 1947, and died in 1951.

13.
The Hearst family still owns much of the larger estate, although the castle itself was donated to the state of California.

14.
Hearst and his castle were satirized in Citizen Kane, and his influence left a lasting mark on show business of the day.

15.
Near Hearst castle in San Simeon, California, there are free-roaming plains zebras, currently numbering around 125 individuals. These are the descendants of zebras that were kept in the Hearst zoo but were then released to roam the nearby grounds.

19.
Azure blue swimming pool in the Hearst Castle.

24.
“My friend recently got banned from Hearst Castle. This is why.”