The Historic Pool

Neptune Pool

First, the Neptune Pool is a key feature of Hearst Castle, the palatial estate built by William Randolph Hearst that is nestled in the Santa Lucia Mountains of California near San Simeon. Designed by the first licensed woman architect in California, Julia Morgan, the Neptune Pool was inspired by ancient Greek and Roman designs and took more than 12 years to build (it was completed in 1936). It features impressive colonnades as well as both ancient and custom-made statues. A grand temple facade (figures A and B) frames this huge 104-foot-long pool, which features an inlaid Greek mosaic design. Neptune Pool played host to some of Hollywood's most famous screen stars of the 1930s and 40s.

Donnell Pool

Just north of San Francisco is the Donnell Pool, built in 1948 by the landscape architect Thomas Church. This irregular-shaped pool (figure C), which features a semi-submerged sculpture (figure D) by Adeline Kent, was one of the first free-form pool designs, ushering in the design age known as Modernism. The pool's groundbreaking design, which mimics the natural curves of the land and garden, helped set a new standard for pools built in the 50s and 60s. A guest house and lanai are featured as the perfect additions to the pool and its surroundings.