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| Landmark #640 | San Luis Obispo County | Visited: January 16, 2015 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | William Randolph Heart’s fabulous ranch estate and 68,500 square foot castle! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: Here on the historic Rancho Piedra Blanca, between 1919 and 1947, William Randolph Hearst created La Cuesta Encantada (The Enchanted Hill), including La Casa Grande and adjacent buildings with their rare art treasures and beautiful gardens. The Hearst Corporation presented it to the State of California in 1958 as a memorial to William Randolph Hearst, donated in the name of his mother, Phoebe Apperson Hearst.
OTHER TIDBITS: Tomes could be (and have been) written about Mr. Hearst, the founder of yellow journalism and arguably the most powerful civilian in US history! As owner of numerous media outlets, Mr. Hearst promoted falsified, sensational journalism, the kind we still see today, and through this approach, he rigged elections, opened the door to Cuban communism, and created the journalistic environment that paved the way for Fox News and what we now know as clickbait! But after visiting Mr. Hearst’s castle, I learned he was a far more complex person than that! He supported both the Communist Bolsheviks and the Fascists of Europe, even ensuring his papers ran positive articles about Hitler’s Germany, while telling Hitler to his face that he should leave the Jews and homosexuals alone! He was against war before it broke out, then pure patriotism when it did! He never affiliated himself with any religion, nor bowed to any world leader! This ranch belonged to his father, George, who made his millions during the Gold Rush. He left William no inheritance to encourage him to succeed on his own, and consequently, William Hearst ensured that none of his descendents could be owners of his company. A lover of catsup, he also served his opulent dinners on his mother’s chinaware, which, if they were good enough for his mother, they were good enoughf or anyone! Mr. Hearst is widely credited with founding syndicated comics and the California Charities Foundation (now the Foundations of the Hearst Corporation), which give grants for journalism, education, and the arts! This landmark is also on the National Register of Historic Places! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument Plaque located in entrance rest area State Hwy 1 San Simeon, CA 93452 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~245mi (395km) — 4.1hrs |
| When should I go? | The castle is open every day from 9:00 AM until sunset! |
