Julia Morgan

Hello! My name is Julia Morgan, and I was an architect. That means I designed buildings—lots of them! I was born on January 20th, 1872, in San Francisco, California. From a young age, I was fascinated by how things were put together. While other children played with dolls, I was more interested in building structures with any materials I could find. My family saw my curiosity and always encouraged me to explore my interests. When it was time for college, I decided to study civil engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. In the 1890s, it was very unusual for a woman to enter such a field, but I was determined not to let that stop me from pursuing my passion. In 1894, I proudly graduated, becoming one of the very first women to earn an engineering degree from the university. I knew then that my journey of building was just beginning, and I was excited to see where it would lead.

After college, I set my sights on the best architecture school in the world: the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France. There was just one enormous problem—the school had never admitted a woman into its architecture program. I traveled to Paris anyway, determined to prove that I belonged there. I took the difficult entrance exam and was told that my score was high enough to qualify, but they still refused to let me in simply because I was a woman. I did not give up. I found a French architect to study with, improved my skills, and tried again. And again! Finally, on my third attempt in 1898, the school accepted me into the program. I worked incredibly hard for the next few years, proving to my professors and classmates that I was just as talented and dedicated as any of the men. I became the first woman to graduate with a full certificate in architecture from the school, a victory not just for me, but for all women who dreamed of entering the field.

I returned to California filled with new ideas and a world-class education. In 1904, I opened my own architecture office in San Francisco. That same year, I achieved another milestone, becoming the first woman to be granted an architect's license in the state of California. My career was just getting started when disaster struck my beloved city. On April 18th, 1906, a massive earthquake and the fires that followed destroyed much of San Francisco. It was a terrible tragedy, but it also created an urgent need for skilled architects to rebuild the city. Many of my early buildings, which I had designed using strong, reinforced concrete, survived the shaking much better than older brick buildings. My reputation for building sturdy, safe structures quickly grew. I was soon hired for many important projects, including the commission to help rebuild the famous Fairmont Hotel. I felt a great sense of purpose as I helped create a new, stronger San Francisco from the ashes.

Of all the hundreds of buildings I designed throughout my long career, one is more famous than any other. In 1919, a wealthy and powerful newspaper publisher named William Randolph Hearst contacted me. He owned a vast ranch in a remote part of California called San Simeon, which he and his family used as a campsite. He told me, 'Miss Morgan, we are tired of camping out... I would like to build a little something.' That 'little something' turned into one of the most incredible private homes in the world: Hearst Castle. For nearly 28 years, I worked closely with Mr. Hearst to design a magnificent estate on top of what he called 'The Enchanted Hill.' It was like building a small city, complete with grand houses for guests, sparkling indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and sprawling, beautiful gardens. Mr. Hearst had a massive collection of art from all over the world, and my job was to design a castle that could showcase it all. It was a huge, complicated, and wonderful challenge that became the project of a lifetime.

I designed over 700 buildings during my career, from cozy houses and schools to grand churches and mansions like Hearst Castle. I always preferred to let my work speak for itself rather than seek personal fame. I closed my office in 1951 and lived a quiet life. I lived to be 85 years old. For a long time after my life ended, my name was not as well-known as my famous buildings. But eventually, people began to rediscover my story and the path I cleared for women in architecture and engineering. In 2014, long after my time, I was awarded the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal. I was the very first woman to ever receive this honor, which is the highest in American architecture. I hope my story inspires you to build your own dreams, no matter how big they seem or what obstacles stand in your way.