Hearst Living History Fashion Show

Libraries Partnering with Hearst Castle on Centennial Celebrations

Author: Sharon Coronado, Coordinating Librarian for Adult Services
Date: 6/19/2019 11:58 AM

The County of SLO Public Libraries and Hearst Castle are both celebrating their Centennials this year. To celebrate together the Libraries are partnering with California State Parks to offer historical programs at local libraries.


2019 marks the Centennial of County Libraries and the 100th Anniversary of the ground-breaking for construction at Hearst Castle. California State Parks Museum Director Mary Levkoff and Guide Supervisor Aja Milne developed a summer schedule of programs to be held free of charge at county branches for the Adult Summer Reading program.

Several branches will be hosting a Living History 1930’s Fashion Show, an interpretive experience of Hearst Castle with period pieces and reproductions on hand to try styles from this bygone era. Also scheduled are presentations on Chief Architect Julia Morgan; long time Hearst companion and actress Marion Davies; W.R. Hearst and the Hollywood Connection; Hearst’s Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, and more.

Morro Bay will have a Hearst tile exhibit installed in July. Cambria library will exhibit architectural facsimiles of Julia Morgan and tile work from the castle in July. Los Osos library will showcase a model of the castle and docents from CA State Parks will discuss the castle’s construction. CA State Parks has generously donated time and historical expertise to the County Libraries to provide library patrons a more intimate view into life at the castle in their back yard.

Superintendent of Parks, Dan Falat, has generously donated two free tickets for a Grand Rooms Tour to a lucky winner of the Short & Sweet Adult Summer Reading Program. To find out dates, times, and location of events please visit slolibrary.org. To sign up for the Short & Sweet Adult Summer Reading, please visit any county branch.