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Julia struggled through her first icy winter in Paris. She was thrilled to see the first signs of spring, writing to the LeBruns on March 1, 1897: “The weather is beginning to brighten, these days. . .

Julia occasionally allowed herself a day of sightseeing, amidst her strenuous preparations for the École des Beaux-Arts’ entrance exams. On Easter Sunday in 1897, she showed a young female visitor. . .

Julia struggled with homesickness while in Paris—especially during holidays. Writing to her friend Beatrice Fox on December 11, 1896, Julia reported that her first solitary. . .

Julia and Avery arrived in Como, Italy late one evening in August 1899. They went straight to the Duomo—the city’s main cathedral (also known as the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta). . .

For their summer vacation in August 1899, Julia and Avery eventually decided to take the train through Switzerland and Northern Italy. It had not been. . .

With Avery as her companion, Julia could explore Europe during their summer breaks. They considered different modes of transport, as she explained. . .

During her first two years in Paris, Julia was often lonely. Her life improved in the fall of 1898, when her younger brother Avery joined her. . .

During her first two years in Paris (1896-98), Julia occasionally attended plays with her friends. On 30 May 1898, she wrote to Pierre and Lucy LeBrun. . .

Julia attended the play Paméla in the spring of 1898, when it opened at the Théâtre du Vaudeville, shown here in an 1889. . .

Julia Morgan was born 150 years ago, on January 20, 1872. At that time, her future seemed certain: marriage, then motherhood, then the genteel pursuits. . .

In the summer of 1898, Julia and Sara Whitney (a friend from Oakland who was Julia’s roommate that year), traveled by train to Provins, sixty miles. . .

When Julia and her roommate, Sara Whitney, visited Provins in 1898, they had trouble finding accommodations. They decided to try the city’s convent. . .

Provins was one of six towns where the ruling Counts of Champagne held their annual cycle of trade markets in the 12th and 13th centuries.  Known. . .

On her trip to Provins in the summer of 1898, Julia admired the crypt of the 13th-century Grange aux Dîmes, which she described to her cousins. . .

A few childhood friends visited Julia in Paris, providing her with a welcome opportunity to explore the city. On one. . .

To prepare for the École’s arduous entrance exams, Julia joined the atelier of architect Marcel de Monclos soon after arriving in Paris. Though two. . .

During Julia’s first summer in Paris, she visited its Salon of 1896. This annual art exhibition—held from 1855-1897 at the Palais de l’Industrie, a large pavilion. . .

The Paris Salon of 1896 included thousands of paintings, which filled every inch of the exhibition rooms’ walls from floor to ceiling. Julia wrote. . .

While traveling through Switzerland by train in 1896, Julia and her three companions visited the Château de Chillon, a medieval castle on the eastern end. . .

When Julia toured the Château de Chillon in 1896, she doubtless walked through Bonivard’s Prison on its lower level. Here François Bonivard, prior of the nearby St. Victor’s monastery, was imprisoned by. . .

In the summer of 1896, soon after her arrival in Paris, Julia embarked on her first sightseeing tour: a railway trip through Switzerland. She traveled with three other young women. . .

From their hotel, Julia and her three traveling companions could see the Jet d’Eau on the opposite bank of Lake Geneva. This enormous fountain was built in 1886 for an industrial purpose. . .

Julia arrived in Paris in June of 1896, and soon decided that the Musée de Cluny was one of her favorite places. This elaborate compound was constructed in the 15th century to serve as the town house. . .

Julia was always particularly fond of children. In Paris she enjoyed observing them when she visited various picturesque sites around the city, including the 5th arrondissement’s Musée de Cluny. . .

Julia and her younger brother Avery were in Paris during the Exposition Universelle of 1900, the spectacular world’s fair located on both sides of the Seine. Covering more than 530 acres. . .

The bridge known as the Pont Alexandre III was one of the 1900 Exposition’s technological wonders. Constructed of. . .

Nearly every day, Julia Morgan walked to the École des Beaux-Arts, located slightly over a mile from the American Girls’ Club. Beginning in the autumn of 1896. . .

When Julia Morgan arrived in Paris in 1896, she lived behind this door at 4 rue de Chevreuse. It marks the entrance to the American Girls’ Club, founded in 1893. . .

Julia had played the violin throughout her childhood, and she delighted in the music she heard in the churches of Paris. On Easter Sunday in 1897. . .

In 1897, Julia spent Easter Sunday showing an unnamed visiting friend around Paris. On April 29, 1897, Julia wrote to her relatives, Lucy and Pierre LeBrun. . .

Eliza Morgan wrote Julia, “There is a dancing platform outside . . . with seats around [it], and [now] they are all out there singing After the Ball.”…

In June 1895, Julia’s sister Emma and several friends stayed in the Santa Cruz mountains, with Eliza Morgan as their chaperone.Julia remained in Oakland…

The Morgan family had visited Santa Cruz before 1895. This time, Julia remained in Oakland, continuing her work for Bernard Maybeck…

In the summer of 1895, Julia’s mother Eliza urged her to join the group of girls Eliza was chaperoning on their rustic vacation in Felton…

South Hall was constructed in 1873, five years after the University of California was established…

Julia Morgan attended Berkeley’s University of California from 1890-1894, majoring in Civil Engineering…

Before she left for Paris to study architecture in 1896, Julia took classes at the Mark Hopkins Institute of Art…

Julia attended Oakland High School, which was only a short walk from her home on…

Julia Morgan had to wheel her finished designs from the studio to the École des Beaux-Arts…

When she attended lectures and used the library at the École des Beaux-Arts…

Julia Morgan lived very near the Palais du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Palace)…

I’ve recently returned from a trip to Paris, where my dear friend Muna Cristal and I followed Julia Morgan’s footsteps, tracing…