2019 Julia Morgan Legacy Day

Join the Santa Monica Conservancy in a special commemoration of Julia Morgan, California’s first licensed woman architect.  Noted for her collaboration with William Randolph Hearst to create Hearst Castle in San Simeon, Morgan left a legacy of more than 700 projects in her nearly five decades of practice.  Posthumously awarded the AIA’s highest honor, a Gold Medal, her brilliant and pioneering work continues to gain public recognition. Morgan designed the Guest House and pool, which comprise the historic core of the Beach House.

William Randolph Hearst and Julia Morgan.

The celebration kicks off at 11 am with a presentation by Laura Sorvetti, Reference Archivist at Cal Poly’s Special Collections and Archives, on the materials and stories within the Julia Morgan collections at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Drawing from 10 years of work supporting researchers and students, Sorvetti will introduce the Morgan collections, share fascinating materials discovered in her research, and describe projects that open the collection to a larger audience in the digital era. The Julia Morgan collections consist of architectural drawings, correspondence, photographs, family records and more.

Following Sorvetti’s presentation, guests may visit the Guest House and pool deck to see Morgan’s work first-hand.

This is a free event. Space is limited for the presentation; reservations are recommended. All ages welcome. Reservations are not needed to visit the Guest House and pool deck for viewing.