Cultural Landscape Report for Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument, Volumes 1 through 4

Matthews, Laurie; Foulds, H Eliot; Page, Robert (Bob); Smith, Joel; Chaudrey, Rumika; Davison, Mark

Hearst Castle, a 137-acre site, located midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles is in San Simeon, San Luis Obispo County, California. Originally named La Cuesta Encantada or “The Enchanted Hill” the estate sits within the Santa Lucia mountain range rising 1600 feet above sea level, five miles inland of the Pacific Ocean coastline and 30 miles north of Morro Bay. Hearst Castle is owned and maintained by CDPR. In 1976, the property was designated a National Historic Landmark, a program administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Hearst Castle is surrounded by land historically part of the 250,000-acre estate once owned by William Randolph Hearst. A portion of which (approximately 85,000 acres in 2005) is still owned by the Hearst Corporation. The historical monument features four main structures; Casa Grande, Guesthouse A – Casa del Mar, Guesthouse B – Casa del Monte, and Guesthouse C – Casa del Sol; all built at different levels on a series of terraces surrounding the hilltop. All of the structures were heavily influenced by Mediterranean styles of Spanish and Italian architecture and landscape architecture. A winding switchback road beginning at California Highway 1 provides access to the hilltop estate. The road begins as a two-lane road, but ends as a single lane loop road with the approach running along the south and the exit along the north. Primary and secondary pedestrian circulation weaves throughout the core of the property with an outer loop reserved mainly for vehicular transportation. An inner loop, also called the Esplanade, runs along the outside of Casa Grande, providing a pedestrian linkage between the main house and the guest houses. Secondary circulation paths and a multitude of ornamental staircases provide additional links between the various terraces. The Pergola, a several mile long equestrian and pedestrian path, is a unique feature of La Cuesta Encantada’s historic circulation. It weaves through a portion of land still owned by the Hearst Corporation, and is viewable from the approach road. The hilltop landscape includes a combination of ornamental, native and invasive vegetation. Native vegetation includes species typical of oak woodland and savanna communities, chaparral communities, and riparian areas. Oaks, significant both to William Randolph Hearst and the environment of the central California coast, include species such as the valley oak, blue oak, and coast live oak. Ornamental vegetation is rich and varied and includes highly decorative species that bear fruit and flowers and majestic Canary Island date palms. Invasive vegetation includes a variety of plants including some species of Eucalyptus. Hearst Castle is significant for its association with William Randolph Hearst and Julia Morgan in the areas of architecture, art, communications, landscape architecture, politics/government, and social history for the years of 1919-1951. Although Hearst spent time and felt connected to this place in the years prior to 1919, it was following his mother’s death that he began the transformation of the hilltop estate into what exists today. Throughout the nearly 30-year design and construction period architect Julia Morgan worked collaboratively with Hearst and oversaw all the work which included the placement of antiquities within and alongside original works of architecture and landscape architecture. Hearst Castle also served as the center of Hearst’s private and public life which merged national-scale events and people related to the communications industry, the film industry and politics.

Cultural Landscape Report for Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument, Volumes 1 through 4

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