Hearst Castle Museum

Hearst Castle® is a must-see for any California visitor. It was originally built as a private estate for publisher William Randolph Hearst. Today, it is open to the public daily for guided tours (except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Days) and is owned and operated by the California State Parks Department. Hearst Castle’s history begins in 1865, when George Hearst purchased 40,000 acres of ranchland. After his mother’s death in 1919, William Randolph Hearst inherited thousands of acres around San Simeon, and over time, he purchased more. The spread eventually encompassed about 250,000 acres. With architect Julia Morgan, Hearst conceived a retreat he called La Cuesta Encantada—Spanish for “Enchanted Hill.” By 1947, when Hearst had to leave the remote location because of his fragile health, the estate was still unfinished even though it comprised 165 rooms and 123 acres of gardens, terraces, pools and walkways—all built to Hearst’s specifications and showcasing a legendary art collection.