Modjeska House

Modjeska House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
California Historical Landmark #205
Madam Helena Modjeska in the garden at "Arden"
Location:	29042 Modjeska Canyon Road, Modjeska, California
Coordinates:	33°42′32.4″N 117°37′30″W / 33.709°N 117.625°W / 33.709; -117.625Coordinates: 33°42′32.4″N 117°37′30″W / 33.709°N 117.625°W / 33.709; -117.625
Area:	14 acres (57,000 m2)[1]
Built:	1888
Architect:	Stanford White
Architectural style:	Queen Anne
Governing body:	Private
NRHP Reference#:	72000244
CHL #:	205
Significant dates
Added to NRHP:	December 11, 1972[2]
Designated NHL:	December 14, 1990[3]

Modjeska House, also known as Arden, is a house designed by Stanford White in Modjeska, California. It is significant for being the only surviving home of Helena Modjeska, a Shakespearean actress and Polish patriot.

Background

Modjeska came to America with her husband Count Karol Bozenta Chłapowski in 1876 from Poland, and created a retreat for when she was not performing on stage. To design a large Victorian country house, she hired one of America’s leading architects, Stanford White. They named it "Arden" after the forest setting of Shakespeare's play As You Like It and planted gardens with olive trees, palms, English yews, white lilac, and crown of thorns. It was their home from 1888 until 1906.

Post-Modjeska years

After the property was sold, the romance associated with Modjeska's life attracted developers who marketed parcels of the property for vacation homes. In 1923, the Walker family of Long Beach purchased prime parcels in the canyon that included the Modjeska house and its surrounding wooded area.^[4]

Historic site

In 1986, the Orange County Harbors, Beaches and Parks Authority purchased the 14.4-acre property for $1 Million^[5] and established it as a historical site. A major restoration occurred before the site could be opened to the public. The original house had no indoor plumbing or utilities. A limited number of visitors are allowed on tours. Directions to the park are given after making reservations.^[6]

It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1990.^[3][1]

The property is located in a live oak grove on the banks of Santiago Creek in Modjeska Canyon, California.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} James H. Charleton (June 16, 1990). National Register of Historic Places Registration: Forest of Arden / Arden / Modjeska House / Modjeska County ParkPDF (426 KB). National Park Service  and Accompanying photos, exterior and of Helen Modjeska and others, from 1988, c.1893 and undatedPDF (1.00 MB)
2. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "Modjeska House". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1209&ResourceType=Building. Retrieved 2007-11-18. 
4. ^ Modjeska House & Gardens OCParks Commission, retrieved on November 18, 2007.
5. ^ Logan, Dan (April 1990). "Once in Arden". Orange Coast Magazine: 106, 107, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113. 
6. ^ Modjeska House & Gardens location and hours OCParks Commission, retrieved on November 18, 2007.

External links

• Helena Modjeska Historic House and Gardens - official site