---

Citizen Kane is a 1941 film about the life of Charles Kane, a fictional man based on William Randolph Hearst. The film is an attack on Hearst, who vehemently opposed its release. He was determined not to let his image be ruined by this depiction of himself as a ruthless newspaper man. He was almost successful in his attempts; the film did not become popular until years after its release, but since then it has been hailed as one of the greatest movies of all time.

---

William Randolph Hearst lived extravagantly on his vast estate, keeping a wide variety of zoo animals on his property. Hearst Castle featured over a hundred rooms, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, acres of gardens, tennis courts, a nightclub, a movie theater, an airfield, and a private zoo. Descendants of Hearst's original zebras can still be seen roaming the grounds today.

It took over a decade to build Hearst Castle. Hearst Castle combines Mediterranean with Spanish architecture, to form a style that was most likely first formed in Hearst's mind during his travels in Europe and his visits to the numerous castles and palaces there.

"It's the most distinctive house in America. Certainly there are larger private residences....more formal, more predictable, more opulent ones. But there's not a mansion on either side of the Mississippi that can hold a candleabra to Hearst Castle, in San Simeon, California." 
                        -- Town and Country Magazine