William Randolph Hearst and His Accomplishments

William Randolph Hearst was born into a life of privilege. He was an American newspaper magnate and leading newspaper publisher who created the largest newspaper and magazine business in the world. He was born in 1863 and died in 1951.

His father was a millionaire mining engineer living in San Francisco and in 1887 Hearst took over management of a newspaper his father had purchased in 1880, called The San Francisco Examiner.

WRH, acquired the best equipment for his newspaper and the most talented writers of the time, including: Ambrose Bierce, Mark Twain and Jack London. At its peak, Hearst created a newspaper chain that numbered nearly 30 papers in some major American cities.

In 1903 he married Millicent Wilson, a 21 year old chorus girl who bore him 5 sons. Although, they never divorced in 1919 he became involved in a love affair with actress Marion Davis.

His life story was also a source of inspiration for the development of the lead character in Orson Welles classic film Citizen Kane.

The source of this hub is Hearst Castle , a magnificent and breathtaking mansion on a 240,000 acre ranch in San Simeon, California, which William Randolph Hearst built and furnished with art, antiques, entire rooms brought from great palaces in Europe and entire rooms from castles.

In 1919, Hearst began to build the never-completed Hearst Castle. The land the castle sits on was called “Rancho Piedra Blanca” meaning (White Rock), and was originally required from a Mexican land grant, purchased by William’s father in 1865. William grew fond of this site over many childhood family camping trips, He inherited the ranch, which had now grown to 250,000 acres and 14 miles of coastline.

On two separate occasions I had the pleasure of touring this magnificent place and would like to share this experience with you. If you ever get a chance to see this Castle, I would suggest you don’t miss the opportunity. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed but left in awe.

Since, money was no object, Hearst spent a fortune restoring the Castle but was never fully completed. Although, when I toured the Castle, I would have been tickled pink to live there and would of considered it finished and a wonderful place to live.

Hearst Castle boasts 34 green and white marble bathrooms for the many guest suites, along with a completed series of terraced gardens which survive and are intact today. Three guest houses also grace the grounds.

The main house features: 56 bedrooms 61 bathrooms, 19 sitting rooms, 127 acres of gardens, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, a movie theater, an airfield and the worlds largest private zoo where animals still roam the grounds today.

One of the main attractions is the Neptune Pool, that offers an expansive vista of the mountains, ocean and main house. The pool features an ancient Roman temple that was transported from Europe and reconstructed at the site.

To supply electricity to this remote location, during Hearst ownership a private plant was built to accommodate the Castle.

The total square footage on the estate exceeds 90,000 square feet. The area of the main house is 60,645 and the area of the guest houses are:

Case del Mar: 5,875 square feet

Casa del Monte: 2,291 square feet

Casa del Sol: 2,604 square foot

In 1957, the Hearst Corporation donated the Castle to the State of California and has been maintained as a State Historic Park where the estate and its considerable collection of art and antiques, is open for public tours. The site attracts about 1 million visitors a year.

The first stop you will make is the Visitors Center that hosts the following: gift shop museum, a National Geographic gift shop, Hearst Castle Theater, food services, transportation to the Castle and tour information.

The Hearst Castle Theater at the Visitor Center is a 5-story screen theater showing the resident film ’Hearst Castle, Building the Dream’ a 40-minute movie that is incorporated with the tour.

Starting June 2011, four tours are offered that will include self-guided access to the grounds. Victors will be able to book one of these tours.

The Grand Rooms Tour: takes you through the ground floor of the Castle including the Assembly Room, Refectory and Billiard Room.

The Upstairs Suites Tour: Tour will take you to Mr. Hearst’s private suite, the Library and Guest Suites.

The Cottages and Kitchen Tour: You will experience the kitchen and two guest houses.

Accessibly Designed Tours: are especially designed for handicapped individuals

All tours include the Neptune Pool, a Greco-Roman outdoor pool and the Roman Pool, an indoor pool lined with Venetian glass and gold.

Once you decide what tour to book, you board the bus at the Visitors Center and begin the five mile journey for the top of the hill to Hearst Castle. Each tour is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, including the bus trips, to and from the Visitors Stations. Along the way to the Castle, much of the wildlife can be seen from the bus route.

Another fun tour to mention is ‘Christmas at the Castle’ an opportunity to experience what Christmas would be like in the 1920 or 1930’s. The main house and all three guest homes will be decorated for the holidays.

Hearst Castle is located near the unincorporated community of San Simeon, California, on the Central Coast of California, approximately 250 miles from both Los Angeles or San Francisco, about five hours from either location and 43 miles from San Luis Obispo on Highway 1.

As you can tell from the pictures this place is magical and while your on your tour its just unbelievable what this man accomplished. Can you envision yourself living in this Castle? Would you want too?

I can see myself in those days, living it up and hob knobbing with William and Marian, or maybe seeing Winston Churchill or Bob Hope and staying in one of the guest rooms in all its magnificent antiques. Ah, to dream…..

This is my recent arm-chair travel hub. I hope you have enjoyed this impressive Castle and you can someday say: Been there, done that.