Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site facts for kids
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Tao House
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Tao House in summer
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 Location in San Francisco Bay Area
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | Kuss Road, Danville, California |
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| Area | 158.6 acres (64.2 ha) |
| Built | 1937 |
| Architect | Frederick Confer |
| Architectural style | Monterey Colonial |
| Visitation | 3,652 (2005) |
| Website | Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000137 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 6, 1971 |
| Designated NHL | July 17, 1971 |
| Designated NHS | October 12, 1976 |
The Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site in Danville, California, is a special place. It protects Tao House, the beautiful home of Eugene O'Neill. He was a famous American writer who won the Nobel Prize for his plays. This house is built in the Monterey Colonial style. It sits on a hillside, offering great views.
Contents
History
A Home for a Nobel Prize Winner
Eugene O'Neill won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1936. He used the prize money to build Tao House. He and his wife lived here from 1937 to 1944. O'Neill had lived in over 35 places before. But he called this quiet house his "final home and harbor."
At Tao House, O'Neill wrote his last important plays. These include The Iceman Cometh and Long Day's Journey Into Night. He also wrote Hughie and A Moon for the Misbegotten. After 1943, he could not finish any more plays. This was because of a problem with his hand.
Designing Tao House
O'Neill and his wife, Carlotta Monterey, loved Asian art and ideas. They designed their two-story, three-bedroom home themselves. The ceilings were painted dark blue, like the sky. The dark wood floors looked like the earth. Inside, they had Noh masks and Chinese guardian statues. They also used Chinese lacquerware furniture.
Outside, Carlotta created a garden with a zigzag path. This was a Chinese tradition to keep away bad spirits. They also planted many trees, like pine, almond, and redwood. The O'Neills moved to Boston after World War II.
Saving the House
In the early 1970s, Tao House was almost torn down. A group of women formed the Eugene O’Neill Foundation. They wanted to raise money to buy the house. It had been named a National Landmark in 1971.
They held many events to raise money. One event was a play by Eugene O’Neill called Hughie. Famous actor Jason Robards performed in it. Thanks to their hard work, Tao House became a National Historic Landmark in 1971. It became a National Historic Site in 1976. In 1980, the National Park Service started managing it. The Foundation still holds an annual festival of O'Neill's plays. They have done this since 1999, with some shows at the house.
Archive
The Eugene O'Neill Foundation keeps many items related to O'Neill at Tao House. This includes old photographs, playbills, and his original record collection. They also have his handwritten notes for plays. The Foundation also hosts events, like plays, in the barn next to the house.
Visiting the House
The National Park Service does not share the exact address of Tao House. However, it is known to be near Kuss Road in Danville. A locked gate stops cars from driving directly to the site.
The site is about 13 acres. You can only reach it by a private road. So, you need to make a reservation to visit. Private cars are not allowed. A free shuttle takes visitors to the house. It leaves from Danville twice a day on Wednesdays to Sundays, at 10 AM and noon. On Saturdays, there is also a 2 PM shuttle. You need reservations for tours, except on Saturdays when you can explore on your own.
You can also reach the site by trails from Las Trampas Regional Wilderness. If you plan to visit by horseback or on foot, it's a good idea to make a reservation too.
