Hearst Castle, San Simeon, CA
Once the private home of publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst, this European-styled library displays a massive collection of books, but also antiques and art! Orson Welles mocked Hearst, his castle, and his lifestyle in his 1941 film Citizen Kane. In the movie, Charles Foster Kane’s palace Xanadu contains a collection of everything so big it can never be cataloged or appraised. Welles’ allusion referred to Hearst’s mania for collecting. The dealer Joseph Duveen called him the “Great Accumulator.”
With a passion for acquisition from childhood, he bought architectural elements, art, antiques, sculptures, silverware, and textiles on a grand scale. Shortly after starting Hearst Castle, he began to imagine making the castle “a museum of the best things that I can secure.”
Among his purchases were architectural elements from Western Europe, particularly Spain. Over thirty ceilings, doorcases, fireplaces and mantels, entire monasteries, and paneling were purchased and transported to California. In addition, he built up collections of more conventional art and antiques of high quality, including his ancient Greek vases, which were one of the world’s largest.
Our next library could be considered the heart of America…..
4 thoughts on “11 Most Beautifully Stunning Libraries in America”
i d like to seeall of them did see NYC PBLIC LIBRARY
The Air Force Academy Library in Colorado is supposed to be quite impressive too. I’ve only seen the outside. Maybe it’s not considered a public library.
EACH MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN THE NEXT!!!
When I was in high school, research was done at the library.
Going downtown was a treat.
I remember spending as much time exploring the library as I did on research each time I visited. It was breathtaking for someone from a small town with a one room, but very clean and efficient public library.