Hearst Castle
This lavish estate, inspired by Spanish Colonial and Mission style architecture, was the ultimate achievement of architect, Julia Morgan. The Hearst Castle remains a symbol of…
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Multnomah Falls and the Columbia Gorge
The Columbia River Gorge is the only sea-level passage through the entire Cascade Range — a fact that explains almost everything about why this particular…
Washington, January 2009: On Being Present for History
There are places designed for ordinary use — and then there are places designed for a particular kind of moment. The National Mall is the…
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Monticello: On What Jefferson Borrowed and Why
Jefferson called it his "essay in architecture" — and like most essays, it was revised continually, for most of his adult life, in pursuit of…
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The Loire Valley: Châteaux, River Towns, and Three Nights at Artigny
I had researched the Loire Valley châteaux for two separate high school French essays before I ever stood in front of one. We left Paris…
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Chartres: Sound, Stone, and the Gothic Cathedral Interior
As a student of architecture, I had studied Chartres Cathedral in the way you study canonical buildings before you've seen them — through plans, sections,…
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