About MSHPA
The mission of Monterey State Historic Parks Association is to support interpretation, educational programs, and special events at Monterey State Historic Park in downtown Monterey.
The association also assists all of the California State Parks by raising funds and increasing public awareness.
Volunteers Enjoy Enchanted Day at Hearst SHM
By Michael D. Green, SPI III
On Saturday, April 17, as part of a continuing education program at Monterey State Historic Park, twenty-nine excited volunteers boarded a chartered bus leaving Monterey at 9:00 a.m. Thanks to Chief of Museum Interpretation Diane McGrath, we had been graciously invited to enjoy one of the great wonders of California, Hearst Castle. It was William Randolph Hearst's country house, an estate he called La Cuesta Encantada (the Enchanted Hill), and the weather forecast promised us a perfect spring day to see it.
When we reached the hilltop, our host, Guide I Eric Weiss gave us a warm welcome, and then deftly interwove details about construction, landscape, and social history during the 75-minute tour. It was clear that Eric, a twenty-year veteran of hilltop interpretation, had done this before, but his enthusiasm was still apparent.
Much is written about Hearst Castle, but it really must be experienced to understand and appreciate its relevance. On the large west terrace, we learned that Mr. Hearst was our first media mogul, giving Americans a steady diet of sensationalistic journalism as he built a nationwide network of newspapers and magazines. We couldn't help drawing comparisons to modern-day media moguls. Later, Mr. Hearst headed a film production company that featured some of Hollywood's biggest stars, including Charlie Chaplin, Adolphe Menjou, Carole Lombard, Dolores Del Rio, and Cary Grant, to name a few.
Soon we wound our way along paths and terraces that led through dazzling gardens from the outdoor Neptune Pool to Casa del Sol, one of three guest houses. Eric pointed out that the buildings and grounds were designed as a collaboration between William Randolph Hearst and Julia Morgan, California's first woman architect. Incredibly, it was one of over 700 projects in Miss Morgan's prodigious career.
In the main house, Casa Grande, we walked through one astonishing room after another. One could sense that this place was a source of pride for the late publisher - a place built not only for his circle of friends and family, but also for those who might visit in the future. Indeed, in a letter to Miss Morgan, Hearst recognized that their work was akin to building a museum.
Throughout the tour, Eric related stories of the many people whose efforts went into the creation of this extraordinary place. While we struggle in these lean times to recognize the true value of our many parks, our group was reminded here that value is not always to be found on a spreadsheet or at the auction house. Treasures are also found in the stories of dreamers, workers, artists, and craftsmen who created the many marvels we saw during our enchanted day at Hearst Castle.