Modjeska House Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Significant dates

Modjeska House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark

Madame Helena Modjeska in the garden at "Arden"
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Location	29042 Modjeska Canyon Road Modjeska, California
Area	14 acres (57,000 m²)
Built	1888
Architect	Stanford White
Architectural style	Queen Anne
NRHP reference No.	72000244
Added to NRHP	December 11, 1972
Designated NHL	December 14, 1990

The Modjeska House, also known as Arden, is a beautiful home located in Modjeska Canyon, California. It was designed by a famous architect named Stanford White. This house is very special because it was the only home that belonged to Helena Modjeska. She was a world-famous actress from Poland, known for her amazing performances in plays by William Shakespeare. The house is nestled among oak trees next to Santiago Creek.

History of the Modjeska House
- What Happened After Modjeska Left?
- Becoming a Historic Site
Marker at the Site
Gallery
See also

History of the Modjeska House

Helena Modjeska came to America from Poland in 1876 with her husband, Karol Chłapowski. She was a very busy actress, always performing on stage. She wanted a peaceful place to relax when she wasn't working.

To create this special retreat, she hired Stanford White, a leading architect in America at the time. He designed a large, beautiful country house in the Victorian style. They named their new home "Arden." This name came from the forest in Shakespeare's play As You Like It.

They also planted lovely gardens around the house. These gardens included olive trees, palm trees, and many different kinds of flowers. The Modjeskas lived in this home from 1888 until 1906.

What Happened After Modjeska Left?

After Helena Modjeska sold the house, many people were still interested in its history. Developers saw a chance to sell parts of the property for vacation homes.

In 1908, a man named Gustave A. Schweiger bought the house. He turned it into a bed and breakfast, a place where people could stay overnight. Later, in 1923, the Walker family from Long Beach bought the Modjeska house and the land around it.

Becoming a Historic Site

The Modjeska House was recognized as a California Historical Landmark in 1935. This means it's an important place in California's history.

In 1986, the Orange County Harbors, Beaches and Parks Authority bought the property. It covers about 14 acres. They wanted to protect it as a historical site for everyone to enjoy. Before it could open to the public, the house needed a lot of work. When it was first built, it didn't even have indoor plumbing!

Today, a limited number of visitors can take tours of the house. You usually need to make a reservation to visit. In 1990, the Modjeska House was also named a National Historic Landmark. This shows its importance to the history of the entire United States.

Marker at the Site

There is a special marker at the Modjeska House that tells its story. It says:

This house is famous as the home of Madame Modjeska, one of the world's greatest actresses. It was designed by Stanford White in 1888 on land called the Forest of Arden. It was sold after she retired. The house remains a reminder of the woman who greatly helped the cultural life of Orange County. This marker was put here by the California State Park Commission. (Marker Number 205.)