Central Coast
National Geographic movie theaters are located at the Hearst Castle Visitor Center. National Geographic Theater at Hearst Castle is truly an amazing experience. Its I WERKS is eight the size of a conventional movie screen, delivering unforgettable, breathtaking images, as extravagant as the castle itself. The theater is equipped with 7-channel, digital surround sound, which, along with the startlingly realistic visual images, creates a sense of motion and interaction with the movie. Don't miss out on the National Geographic Movie theater at Hearst Castle. Your visit won't be the same without it. Few subjects achieved the near mythic stature of William Randolph Hearst whose remarkable story is captured in Hearst Castle - Building The Dreams. It's a story rich in historic details and culture, making it an ideal learning experience for all levels of students. The National Geographic theater at Hearst Castle offers teachers an instructional setting unlike anything available on the central coast. Located on the grounds of Hearst San Simeon Historical Monument, the 420 seats theater shows Hearst Castle - Building The Dream on a five-story-screen. The only large, format theater on the central coast. Special curriculum focused tours of Hearst Castle for sixth and seventh grades are offered at selected times in fall and spring. Round your educational trip to the theater with stops to observe elephant seals on a nearby beach, a whale-watching excursion, or explore tide pools and scenic boardwalk trails. The School Tours offered by Hearst Castle are curriculum focused and supported by a teacher resource packet that provides pre-visit background material and exercises as well as post-visit activities. The tours last approximately one hour and forty-five minutes including the bus trip to and from the hilltop.
The National Geographic theater at Hearst Castle in beautiful Sam Simeon. Travellers will find everything they need in Hearst Castle. The Visitor Center offers everything from snacks and espresso bars to fully stocked gift shops. In addition, combination tickets for Hearst Castle tour and the theater is available. If you think Hearst Castle is spectacular on its own, wait until you experience it on a five story screen. Hearst Castle - Building the Dream gives a revealing and thrilling view of the castle and its surroundings. Learn about the castle's rich history, and the dreams and inspirations which lead William Randolph Hearst to construct his architectural masterpiece. Tour One is recommended for first-time visitors as it provides a broad overview of the many facets of Hearst Castle and it is the least strenuous of the tours. Tour duration is 1 hour and 45 minutes which includes the bus ride to and from the castle. Tour Two focuses on the architectural elements and vast art collection in the main house, or Casa Grande. Featured rooms on this tour include; the Doge's Suite, "The Cloisters" which are four guest rooms flanked by open walkways, the Library, the Gothic Suite which occupies the entire third floor and includes Hearst's impressive private suite, library and office, and the Kitchen. The Evening Tour is a special tour that allows visitors to experience the Castle at night as one of Hearst's own visitors might have. The mission of California State Parks includes the preservation and protection of valuable cultural resources throughout the state.
