Experience "Fifty Years of Excellence" at Hearst Castle ®

San Simeon, CA: Hearst Castle® is nationally accredited by the American Association of Museums and is operated by California State Parks. Hearst Castle® celebrates its 50 th anniversary of public tours this year on June 2, 2008. As a collaborative venture between Friends of Hearst Castle and California State Parks, the public is invited to enjoy the “Experience Tour” on Monday, June 2, 2008 at no charge. The following is a list of activities that will highlight the 50 th anniversary year of Hearst Castle® as a California State Park, so make your plans today to join us in this celebration and experience “Fifty Years of Excellence’ at Hearst Castle ® .  

50th Golden Anniversary― A Friendly Opportunity to Experience Hearst Castle

Friends of Hearst Castle, a nonprofit cooperating association affiliated with Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument, proudly announces a year of celebration to commemorate 50 years of public tours ― 50 years of public access to this historical house museum ― 50 years in which the public has ascended to the Enchanted Hill.

A private country estate containing some 165 rooms and situated on 86,000 breathtakingly beautiful acres in San Simeon, California, La Cuesta Encantada (The Enchanted Hill) is truly a sight to behold. Conceived by W.R. Hearst and constructed by architect Julia Morgan, Hearst Castle was a playground for the privileged and the few. Members of Hollywood’s A-list, politicians, heads of state and successful businessmen all graced the halls at “the ranch” as Hearst himself referred to this glamorous country house. Housed within the Castle are countless works of art and antiquity, passionately collected by W.R. Hearst. Spanish ceilings, architectural fragments, medieval tapestries, Renaissance furniture, 19 th century sculpture and other decorative arts, such as ceramics, metalwork and textiles all made the long journey from Europe and the Mid-East to the Castle. These treasures remain on display just as they were during the heyday and splendor of the Castle, now to be enjoyed by everyone who has an interest in beauty, art, architecture and history.

Despite its grandeur, W.R. Hearst welcomed the rich, the famous, the influential and guests from every walk of life to the Castle where he enjoyed hosting parties, screening movies and relaxing by the Neptune Pool. Following in this gracious and warm tradition, Friends of Hearst Castle and California State Parks is proud to invite the public to join in a calendar of exciting events to celebrate the golden anniversary year of public access to the Castle. From a gala banquet set in the Refectory to outdoor cocktail parties under the stars to the popular Salon Series of lectures on Hearst-related topics to the upcoming release of a new book on the San Simeon gardens and landscape, this is the year of the Castle for the time of your life!

This is the year of marvelous encore presentations and innovative new expressions of entertainment in the Hearst style of indulgence. In honor of the 50 th, Friends will be offering members a gold pass to a customized subscription at a savings. Plan ahead, be assured tickets for events that often sellout and enjoy golden savings. Visit wwww.friendsofhearstcastle.org for membership information, the key to this national treasure.

Gifted to the State of California by the Hearst Family, Hearst Castle is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is operated by California State Parks. Friends of Hearst Castle is using this golden opportunity to launch an initiative, establishing a vitally important and much needed endowment for art preservation and restoration. This endowment will further Friends’ mission to ensure that the more than 25,000 objects of art and antiquities displayed at the Castle continue to be enjoyed by generations to come.

Hearst Castle celebrates its 50 th anniversary of public tours beginning this year on June 2, 2008. As a collaborative venture between Friends of Hearst Castle and California State Parks, the public is invited to enjoy on a first come, first-served basis a free “Experience Tour” on Monday, June 2, 2008.

The following is a partial list of events and activities that will highlight the 50 th anniversary year of Hearst Castle as a California State Park. Make your plans today to join us in this celebration and experience Fifty Years of Excellence at Hearst Castle.

Twilight on the Terrace : May 31, 2008

2008 marks the 2 nd annual Twilight on the Terrace at Hearst Castle, the kick-off event for a year of celebration honoring the 50 th anniversary of Hearst Castle public tours.

Last year’s event was a resounding success, and this year promises to be even more exciting with additional purveyors of fine wine and food making for an informal and entertaining evening. Twilight on the Terrace begins at sunset, a sight not to be missed from the Enchanted Hill! Sample locally produced wine, beer and
hors d’oeuvres from over 40 Central Coast providers, as the sun dramatically sets over the Pacific Ocean and sparkling stars illuminate the Castle gardens. Revel in the fragrance of orange blossoms and enjoy a glorious spring evening while strolling the Esplanade and the Main Terrace. Take a chance on a raffle to win first-time Hearst Castle experience.

Friends of Hearst Castle is proud to announce that monies raised from this year’s Twilight on the Terrace fundraising event will begin a necessary and vitally important endowment for art restoration and preservation at Hearst Castle. As Hearst Castle approaches its 100 th birthday in 2019, the commencement of this endowment will ensure that the many irreplaceable treasures purchased by W.R. Hearst, enjoyed by his personal guests and further enjoyed by 50 years of public visitations, will continue to inspire, dazzle and educate people for generations to come.

Cost $100.00 per person

ENCHANTED EVENING: September 27, 2008

In conjunction with the 50 th anniversary of public tours at Hearst Castle, 2008 marks the 10 th annual prestigious Enchanted Evening at Hearst Castle. An evening of sophisticated elegance, the night begins with a sparkling wine reception on the Main Terrace where you will be dazzled by a magnificent sunset over the Pacific. Under a canopy of stars, guests are escorted to their exquisitely decorated table for a premiere gourmet dinner inspired by fresh, local foods and wines expertly prepared by renowned Chef Maegen Loring, elegantly served in an outdoor setting. Bid on unique Hearst Castle inspired items and experiences, such as a swim in the Roman Pool or special Castle private tours. Other auction items have included luxury car leases, marvelous trips and exclusive Central Coast wine and food packages. Enchanted Evening is truly a magical evening reminiscent of the splendor and glamour of La Cuesta Encantante when W.R. Hearst entertained and everyone dreamed of an invitation.

Cost: $325 per person

HOLIDAY FEAST: December 6, 2008

The golden anniversary glitters with glamour at the most exclusive event of the year, the Holiday Feast, an extraordinary way in which to begin your holiday season. A limousine will whisk you and your party up the scenic and winding road to the Castle. Partake in this rare and unique opportunity to dine in the historic Refectory in the company of 88 other discerning guests. The exquisitely catered, multi-course meal is paired with premium Central Coast wines for a sumptuous and exceptional dining experience. A special live performance of holiday music ensures that this is truly a feast for the senses. As a memento of this most distinctive holiday event, Friends of Hearst Castle will present every guest of the Holiday Feast with a unique castle-inspired treasure to take home and cherish.

Cost: $1,000 per person (limited to 88 people)

Salon Series 2008: July 18, September 3, October 23, November 16 & December 11

Friends of Hearst Castle is proud to report that our first annual Salon Series of 2007 was a resounding, sellout success! Following in the tradition of Phoebe Apperson Hearst, who hosted lectures and readings in her Bay Area and Washington D.C. homes, Friends of Hearst Castle is sponsoring five exceptionally informative and entertaining talks in a number of local venues.

This year’s Salon Series will undoubtedly enlighten and entertain those that attend these fascinating lectures. The series consists of five talks. Be sure to check the Hearst Castle website for updated information. Purchase your tickets early as we again expect a sellout crowd for the Salon Series. Don’t forget that members of the Friends of Hearst Castle receive priority registration and space is limited. To become a member of Friends, please visit www.friendsofhearstcastle.org or call (805) 927-2138 for more information.

July 18, 2008 Ageless Beauty: Outdoor Sculpture Conservation

Walk/Talk with John Griswold at Hearst Castle

Enjoy a stroll through the gardens with Conservator John Griswold of Griswold Conservation Associates, based in Los Angeles. Mr. Griswold will speak about the many challenges facing preservation of the numerous outdoor sculptures on the Hearst Castle grounds.

September 3, 2008 Hearst: The Collector

Mary L. Levkoff Curator of European Sculpture and Classical Antiquities, Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Special Guest Appearance by Julia Morgan (also known as Constance Gordon)

Monday Club, San Luis Obispo

William Randolph Hearst’s unique legacy as a collector is only partly revealed in the magnificence of San Simeon: treasures housed in other locations, and liquidated when Hearst faced a financial crisis in 1937, are not well known. The fate of these dispersed works of art, now scattered among museums as far-flung as New Zealand, Mexico, and Jerusalem, will be the centerpiece of this exclusive preview of Ms. Levkoff’s exhibition Hearst the Collector, which opens in November 2008 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. More than a hundred of Hearst’s most significant works of art will be reunited there for the first time, with loans from such illustrious institutions as the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Royal Armories of Great Britain, showcased alongside masterpieces from Hearst Castle.

Levkoff did her undergraduate work at Princeton University, where she won the White Prize in architectural history; her graduate study was done at New York University’s Institute of Fine Arts. She worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and lived in Paris for six years before joining LACMA in 1989. An internationally recognized authority in French Renaissance art, she has been appointed to the scientific committee for France’s National Institute for the History of Art 2009 symposium. Ms. Levkoff was a member of the Art and Artifacts Indemnity Advisory Panel for the National Endowment for the Arts. In addition to her book Rodin in his Time (Thames & Hudson/Rizzoli), she has published many studies about the history of European sculpture, most recently under the auspices of the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay.

Constance Gordon brings Julia Morgan to life. Gordon has been a tour guide at the Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument since 2005. When she was selected to teach Elderhostel classes about Hearst Castle, she decided to present the segment on the monument's architect, Julia Morgan, in the first person. She spent countless hours doing research with the help of the Hearst Castle librarians. The historically accurate suit that Gordon wears was created by The Hearst Castle Living History program.

October 23, 2008 An Evening with Steve Hearst

Hearst Cancer Resource Center, San Luis Obispo

Join Steve Hearst as he as he inspires us about the founding of the Hearst Cancer Resource Center at French Hospital in San Luis Obispo. Funded by a generous grant by the Hearst family, as well as a meaningful grant from the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, the Center will provide valuable services free of charge to all persons diagnosed with cancer and their families.

November 16, 2008 Going Hollywood, aLiving History Interpretive Fashion Show

Hearst Warehouse by the Ocean  

From shipping to show business, the Hearst Castle Living History Program take guests on a journey back in time from San Simeon’s early days to the golden era of cinema. Docents are costumed in the fashions of the times, truly evoking what it was like to be a guest “at the ranch” with Hearst and his elite crowd of friends. On May 1, the Living History Program presents “Going Hollywood”. Journey back to the golden era of film through an interpretive fashion show — experience the glamour of cinema and its influence on fashion trends — go Hollywood with the greats.

December 11, 2008 Arachne's Legacy: Weavings at Hearst Castle

Muna Cristal, Hearst Castle Guide

Celebrate the holidays with a behind the scenes tour of textiles and fabrics with Muna Cristal. Since 1995, Muna Cristal has acted as a guide at Hearst Castle. In 2000 she became part of the Guide Training Team responsible for recruiting and training new guides for the Castle. In this capacity she has become the principal lecturer on tapestries and carpets at the Castle. Researching and presenting these topics in a meaningful, interesting manner has become a labor of love which she happily shares with any and all interested parties.  

For more information visit www.friendsofhearstcastle.org or call Friends at (805) 927-2138.

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