Hearst Castle is a National Historic Landmark and California Historical Landmark mansion located on the Central CA Coast.

It was designed by architect Julia Morgan, between 1919 and 1947, as a residence for William Randolph Hearst, who died in 1951.

In 1954, it became a California State Park and was opened to visitors in 1958. The Castle serves as the key economic engine of the Central California Coast. Since then, the estate, and its considerable collection of art and antiques, has been open for public tours.

Despite its location far from any urban center, the Castle welcomes 1.5 million visitors annually, ranking it as a top tourist destination in California.

Formed in 1985, The Foundation at Hearst Castle (formerly Friends of Hearst Castle) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cooperating association affiliated with Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument® and the San Luis Obispo Coast District of California State Parks.

Through membership and fundraising, The Foundation provides funds for educational, interpretive, and artifact preservation programs and supports the California State Parks ongoing. The Foundation looks to be a conduit through which businesses and philanthropic organizations or individuals can provide support and engagement with Hearst Castle.

We support the conservation and restoration of Hearst Castle through membership opportunities, educational programs, outreach efforts, and special events, with the goal of enhancing understanding and appreciation, thereby enriching the visitor experience.

The support provided by The Foundation at Hearst Castle helps to increase public access to and appreciation of, this unique historical and cultural California treasure.

Expansion of Youth Programs

• New programs
• Reaching students further away
• Overnight programs
• Support for Guides Executing Youth Programs

<CA State Parks role & PORTS program>

( use virtual/ports  learning descriptions and images)

In support of existing Tablets, drawings., etc…

The lack of full-time conservators result in the inability to create a cohesive planning and funding strategy that will adequately address the critical and immediate conservation and restoration needed at Hearst Castle.

The Castle’s 25,000 works of fine and decorative art need attention so that they can continue to inspire, educate, and delight more than 830,000 visitors each year. The Foundation at Hearst Castle has undertaken a number of conservation projects since its inception to conserve some of the most magnificent of these works of art, such as the 15th century ceiling from Barbastro in northeastern Spain in the Billiard Room of Casa Grande to the massive restoration and completion of the iconic Neptune Pool.

The works of art have been enjoyed by millions of visitors, who have marveled at their beauty and historical significance; however, many need extensive conservation so their original splendor will continue to be appreciated. The challenge remains, conservators for these great works are in short supply and are contracted based upon their availability. Given San Simeons remote location, special housing stipends and other associated expenses escalate the cost of each restoration. Consequently, planning and prioritizing the needed work is subject to the availability of a particular conservator and not the priority of the Museum Director.

The Foundation at Hearst Castle and California State Parks believe a full-time staff of conservators would provide Hearst Castle with more stable and long-term talent. Much like artists-in-residence, the conservators would provide year-round service to the Castle and, ultimately contributing to the historic art community of California.

The Museum Director would benefit from securing a team of full-time conservators, which would allow her to create long term scheduling, increase the efficiency of work, and achieve greater efficacy of funds provided by donors and partners; therefore ensuring the completion of conservation and restoration of a significant number of projects currently in need.

Meet Conservator Gary Hubert