Hearst Castle has one of the most beautiful libraries in the nation, Yahoo says

Hearst Castle has one of the most awe-inspiring libraries in the nation, according to Yahoo!

The site included the historic San Luis Obispo County spot on its list of the 12 Most Beautiful Libraries in the U.S.

“What’s not to love about popping into a library? You can check out the latest books on the stacks, and admire the beautiful buildings that the libraries are housed in,” Erin Yarnall writes in the Yahoo article, published Nov. 7.

“While some are visually stunning because they are so modern and technologically advanced,” Yarnell writes, “others are seemingly ancient and filled with history, wowing visitors who are mesmerized by the architecture and details.”

Los Angeles Central Library leads Yahoo’s list, which includes Boston Public Library, Providence Athenaeum in Rhode Island and the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

Hearst Castle’s library is ranked No. 7.

Architect Julia Morgan designed the 80-foot-long library along with the rest of media magnate William Randolph Hearst’s hilltop estate in San Simeon.

According to Hearst Castle docent Cara O’Brien, the Main Library was popular with Hearst’s guests — in part because it was cozier than rooms on the main floor, which tended to be drafty.

“It only makes sense that the library of one of the most beautiful mansions in the country, Hearst Castle, would also contain one of the most beautiful libraries as well,” Yarnall writes.

According to the article, the European-inspired library features approximately 4,000 books as well as 150 antique Greek vases, and a 16th-century Spanish ceiling.

Larry Snider, vice president of operations of Casago Vacation Rentals, told Yahoo that the Hearst Castle library is “one of the most gorgeous libraries in the country.”

Visitors can check the library on the Upstairs Suites Tour of the state historical monument.

Yahoo didn’t include the criteria it used to come up with its rankings.

Here’s Yahoo’s full list of the 12 most beautiful libraries in the United States:

1. Los Angeles Central Library, Los Angeles
2. Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts
3. Providence Athenaeum, Providence, Rhode Island
4. Library of Congress on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
5. Armstrong-Browning Library, on the campus of Baylor University, Waco, Texas
6. Nashville Public Library, Nashville, Tennessee
7. Hearst Castle Library, San Simeon
8. Louisville Free Public Library, Louisville, Kentucky
9. J.P. Morgan Library and Museum, Manhattan, New York
10. Suzzlallo and Allen Libraries, at the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
11. Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City, Missouri
12. Parkway Central Library, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

This story was originally published November 9, 2022 at 9:34 AM.

Kathe Tanner

The Tribune

805-781-7904 (voicemails only)

Kathe Tanner has been writing about the people and places of SLO County’s North Coast since 1981, first as a columnist and then also as a reporter. Her career has included stints as a bakery owner, public relations director, radio host, trail guide and jewelry designer. She has been a resident of Cambria for more than four decades, and if it’s happening in town, Kathe knows about it.