Julia Morgan

Hello! My name is Julia Morgan, and I spent my life designing and building amazing places. I was born on January 20th, 1872, in San Francisco, California. Ever since I was a little girl, I loved to build. While other children might have played with dolls, my favorite thing to do was create tiny houses and bridges. My parents always encouraged my interests. When I grew up, I wanted to learn how to design buildings for a living, but the university I went to didn't have a program for architecture. So, I decided to study the next best thing: engineering. In 1894, I graduated from the University of California, Berkeley. I was one of the very first women to earn an engineering degree there, and I knew my journey was just beginning. My heart was set on becoming an architect.

My biggest dream was to study at the most famous architecture school in the world, the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France. When I decided to apply, I ran into a big problem—the school had never allowed a woman to study there before. But I refused to let that stop me. I moved all the way to Paris and studied as hard as I could. The first time I tried to get in, they said no. I kept studying and tried a second time, but they said no again. I was determined to achieve my dream. On my third try, in 1898, they finally accepted me! I became the first woman ever to be admitted to their architecture program. I worked incredibly hard in Paris and learned all about how to design buildings that were not only beautiful but also very strong.

When I returned to California, I was ready to start my career. In 1904, I officially earned my license and became the first woman architect in the entire state! I was so excited that I opened my very own office to start designing buildings. Just a couple of years later, in 1906, a terrible thing happened. A huge earthquake struck San Francisco, and many buildings in the city crumbled to the ground. However, the buildings I had designed using a special material called reinforced concrete stood strong through the shaking. Because my buildings had survived, I was asked to help rebuild the city. One of my most important jobs was helping to repair and finish the famous Fairmont Hotel. It was a massive task, but I was so proud to help my beloved city recover and become strong again.

One of my most exciting projects began when a very wealthy man named William Randolph Hearst hired me. He wanted me to design a home for him, but this wasn't just any home. He dreamed of having a magnificent castle on a beautiful hilltop in San Simeon, California. We started working on this incredible project in 1919. We called it 'La Cuesta Encantada,' which is Spanish for 'The Enchanted Hill.' For nearly 28 years, I worked on this project, designing every single detail. We built grand dining halls where hundreds of people could eat, sparkling swimming pools decorated with beautiful tiles, and even a private zoo for his collection of animals! This amazing place, now known as Hearst Castle, became my biggest and most famous project. It truly felt like we were building a fairytale castle on top of that hill.

Over my long career, I designed more than 700 buildings. I created everything from cozy family homes and community centers to grand churches and large university halls. I loved my work and poured my heart into every single project, making sure each one was special. I lived to be 85 years old. I am so happy that many of my buildings are still standing today and are being used and enjoyed by people every day. In 2014, many years after my time, I was honored with the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal, which is the highest award an architect can receive. I hope my story shows you that if you have a dream and you are determined to work hard, you can build anything you can imagine.