Hearst Castle is a beautiful, National Historic Landmark and California Historical Landmark mansion. The land for the castle was first purchased in 1865 by George Hearst, a brilliant miner who became a self-made millionaire. George’s son, William Randolph Hearst, inherited even more land after his mother’s death and continued to purchase more land for the castle.

It originally was a camping ground for families, but Hearst eventually contacted architect Julia Morgan and wrote, “I would like to build a little something.” Hearst eventually had to leave the land in 1947 while the castle was unfinished – however, it still had 165 rooms and 123 acres of walkways, pools, and gardens.

There are many interesting features of the castle that you can see on a tour. There is a wine cellar that was built during the Prohibition with vaults to protect Hearst’s collection. At one point, there was an active zoo that was the world’s largest private zoo. While not in operation anymore, the descendants of the animals originally in that zoo can be found on the castle’s ranchland. There are also two pools located at the castle; the Neptune Pool and the Roman Pool. They were the site of many social gatherings and parties.

Hearst Castle has attracted many important figures throughout the years, including Charlie Chaplin. Born in 1889, Chaplin came from a family that struggled financially. Because of this, he started work at a very young age, touring music halls and honing his craft as an actor and comedian. He became an icon in the film industry and was known for his silent films that featured his character The Tramp. Some of his most famous works are The Gold Rush (1925) and The Great Dictator (1940).

Winston Churchill is another historical figure who has visited Hearst Castle. He started his career by serving in the British army, and wrote books about his time serving. He held various political positions, including President of the Board of Trade, until he became Prime Minister in 1940. His work as Prime Minister led Britain and the Allied Forces to defeat Nazi Germany. He had also won a Nobel Peace Prize in Literature for his lifetime body of work.

One other iconic film figure who has visited the castle is Harpo Marx. Unlike his other two brothers, Harpo was completely silent during all performances, only ever using a horn to communicate, but never speaking. He relied on pantomime and clown aspects of comedy rather than auditory, and much of his comedy was physical. Much like his name implies, he was also known for playing the harp in many of his films.

There are a variety of tours you can take at Heart Castle, but sign up early for reservations.

Jody’s Travel Inc