State Historical Monument

In 1865, George Hearst, a wealthy miner, purchased 40,000 acres of ranchland that included the Mexican Ranchos of Piedra Blanca, San Simeon and Santa Rosa. In 1919, his only son, William Randolph Hearst, inherited the land from his mother, Phoebe Apperson Hearst. By then the ranch had grown to encompass 250,000 acres.

Originally nicknamed "Camp Hill," its wilderness offered a place for family members and friends to "rough it" on camping trips. While the arrangements for these trips were elaborate, with separate sleeping and dining tents, they would not satisfy Hearst for long. In 1919, his instructions to famed San Francisco architect Julia Morgan were simple, "Miss Morgan, we are tired of camping out in the open at the ranch in San Simeon and I would like to build a little something."

Hearst and Morgan's collaboration was destined to become one of the world's greatest showplaces. As they were planning and constructing his dream home, Hearst renamed the rocky perch from which it rose "La Cuesta Enchanted" The Enchanted Hill. By 1947, Hearst and Morgan had created an estate of 165 rooms and 127 acres of gardens, terraces, pools and walkways. The estate's magnificent main house, "Casa Grande," and three guesthouses are of Mediterranean Revival style, with the imposing towers of Casa Grande being inspired by a Spanish cathedral. The blending of the architectural style with the surrounding land, and Hearst's superb European and Mediterranean art collections, was so seamless that world renowned architectural historian, Lord John Julius Norwich, was moved to say that "Hearst Castle is a palace in every sense of the word".

For General information contact: Information Office at P.O. Box 942896, Sacramento, Ca 94296-0001, call (806) 927-2020 or visit it their website at www.hearstcastle.com To make camping reservations call (800) 444-PARK.