Hearst Castle: The ‘Art Fever’ and an Inspired Vision

In this installment of ‘Larger Than Life: Architecture Through the Ages,’ we tour the famed castle that overlooks the bluffs of California’s Central Coast.

An invitation to Hearst Castle was among the most coveted in America. Delivered by phone call or handwritten note, it granted entry to an inner circle that included Clark Gable, Charlie Chaplin, Marion Davies, Winston Churchill, and Calvin Coolidge. Guests could stay as long as they pleased—a privilege that made Hearst's hilltop retreat the most glamorous address in the country. Aimee Lee Studios/Shutterstock

Few figures of the American Gilded Age left a mark as indelible—or as literal—as William Randolph Hearst. He possessed a rare gift for transformation: A single newspaper became a media empire; a remote and windswept stretch of California coastline became one of the most storied estates in the country.

Born in 1863 to George and Phoebe Hearst, he grew up as the only child of a successful prospector and businessman and a well-educated former schoolteacher. His privileged upbringing included private schooling and extensive travel. At age 10, he embarked on a year-long European tour with his mother, visiting castles and museums that would later shape his vision for Hearst Castle.