Prolific Southern California architect, Julia Morgan designed over 700 buildings in her career. She is most known for the Heart Castle at San Simeon she designed for William Randolph Hearst.  It was named “La Cuesta Encantada” The Enchanted Hill by 1947 it was an estate of 165 rooms and 127 acres of gardens, terraces and pools and walkways.

Today would have been her 142nd birthday. The American Institute of Architects has awarded posthumously the 2014 Gold Medal award to her. She is the first woman to have won the Gold Medal.  This is quite significant since she was one of the first female architects, fortunately now more and more women are joining the architecture profession.