Design Santa Barbara
On Design Santa Barbara We Explore Two Historic Homes in The Series of “Great Mansions in America”. William Randolph Hearst’s Castle and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello.
Hearst Castle
Additionally Hearst Castle is a National Historic Landmark and California Historical Landmark mansion located on the Central Coast of California. Furthermore, Hearst formally named the estate “La Cuesta Encantada”
Consequently, Hearst Castle was built on Rancho Piedra Blanca that William Randolph Hearst’s father, George Hearst The younger Hearst grew fond of this site over many childhood family camping trips.
William Randolph Hearst and Julia Morgan
It was designed by architect Julia Morgan, between 1919 and 1947, as a residence for newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, who died in 1951. In 1954 it became a California State Park. Despite its location far from any urban center, the site attracts “millions of travelers each year”.
Monticello
Monticello was the primary plantation of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States. who began designing and building Monticello at age 26 after inheriting land from his father. Located just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, in the Piedmont region, the plantation was originally 5,000 acres, with Jefferson using slaves for extensive cultivation of tobacco and mixed crops. Later shifting from tobacco cultivation to wheat in response to changing markets.
Due to its architectural and historic significance, the property has been designated a National Historic Landmark. As a result, the current nickel, a United States coin, features the Monticello on its reverse side.
Moticello Graveyard
After Jefferson’s death, his daughter Martha Jefferson Randolph sold the property. Levy, a commodore in the U.S. Navy admired Jefferson and spent his own money toward property. His nephew Jefferson Monroe Levy took over the property in 1879. He also invested to restore and preserve it. In addition, Monroe Levy sold it in 1923, to the Thomas Jefferson Foundation , which operates it as a house museum and educational institution.
