Hoover Elementary School's Answer

Hoover: We think that perhaps the land surrounding Mission San Antonio might have been an Indian reservation before it was taken over by the government, but we are not sure and can't seem to find out what might actually be the truth. Did the land become a military base in the 1940's? We know the Hearst Foundation was involved in the reconstruction of Mission San Antonio.

Cyclists: All of the land between Hearst Castle at San Simeon east to Mission San Antonio was owned by William Randolph Hearst. He built a very fancy summer house topped with a gold Byzantine dome which you pass on your way to the Mission. This building was used by Hearst and his rich friends for hunting and wild parties. Today the building is the officer's club of the Hunter Liggett Reserve.

Cyclists: During World War II Hearst started losing money and did not pay his taxes. When the government came to collect their money, Hearst told them that they could take all of his land east of the coast, as long as he could keep Hearst Castle at San Simeon. The government used this land to start Hunter Liggett Military reserve. in the 1940s.