Hearst Castle, San Simeon, CA. This was the private playground and museum of the newspaper and movie tycoon William Hearst; now a state historic park. As a child Hearst toured Europe with his mother and fell in love with European history. Later as an extremely wealthy man, he bought at auction in New York City old stuff from Europe and Egypt, such as tapestries, paintings, fireplaces, and whole building facades. What he did not or could not buy, he had his architect Julia Morgan design, like the outside and inside swimming pools. Guests were flown by private airplane to the "ranch," as he called it, and housed in the guest houses. Guests would hang out in the sitting rooms and eat meals together in the dining room in the Casa Grande, the cathedral-like center building. The newest guests sat next to Hearst and the longer guests stayed the farther they sat from Hearst. It took a lot of staff to run this "village." The complex was built in stages from 1922-1947. Click on a picture to see a larger view.

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