From the legendary newspaper baron who first dreamed of turning 250,000 acres of undeveloped ranch land into a magnificent and towering estate to the skilled and masterful architect who supervised nearly every aspect of construction for over 28 years, discover the historic people who played pivotal roles in Hearst Castle history.
William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst, the man behind Hearst Castle, is an important figure from the twentieth century whose influence extended to publishing, politics, Hollywood, the art world and everyday American life. His power and vision allowed him to pursue one of the most ambitious architectural endeavors in American history, the result of which can be seen in magnificent grounds and structures of Hearst Castle. Mr. Hearst was born on April 29, 1863, in San Francisco, California, as [...]
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Millicent Hearst
In 1903 controversial publisher and aspiring politician William Randolph Hearst married 22 year-old Millicent Willson, the daughter of George Willson and Hannah Murray Willson. Following in the footsteps of their father, a moderately successful vaudevillian, Millicent and her older sister Anita performed on the stage in 1897 as “bicycle girls” in Edward Rice’s The Girl from Paris at the Herald Square Theater on Broadway. The 16 year-old beauty caught the eye of the 34 year-old Hearst, [...]
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Julia Morgan
Julia Morgan was born in San Francisco on January 20, 1872 and grew up in nearby Oakland. She was the second child of Charles Bill and Eliza Parmelee Morgan. Miss Morgan was one of the first women to graduate from University of California at Berkeley with a degree in civil engineering. During her tenure at Berkeley, Morgan developed a keen interest in architecture which is thought to have been fostered by her mother’s cousin, Pierre Le [...]
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Marion Davies
Marion Davies was born Marion Cecilia Douras in Brooklyn, New York on January 3, 1897. She was the youngest of five children born to Bernard and Rose Douras. Watching her sister achieve success in show business turned Marion’s inclinations toward a career in drama early in her life. After leaving school she became a sought-after model for the famous painters of the day. She assumed the stage name of Marion Davies and quickly established herself as [...]
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Phoebe Apperson Hearst
Phoebe Apperson Hearst was born 1842 in Franklin County, Missouri. Before marrying 41 year old George Hearst at the age of 19, Miss Apperson worked as a teacher in area schools. Soon after their marriage, the couple moved to San Francisco where Phoebe gave birth to their only child, William Randolph in 1863. In 1873, Phoebe took young William on a grand tour of Europe where the two spent more than a year visiting castles, museums [...]
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George Hearst
George Hearst was born and raised in Franklin County, Missouri in 1820. Growing up he received very little in the way of formal education but he did learn a lot about the so-called “lay of the land,” particularly in regards to mining. In fact, legend has it that local Indians referred to him as the “boy that the earth talk to.” George quickly established himself in adulthood as a powerful miner and rancher in the Western [...]
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