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 historic home in Modjeska Canyon, California. It was designed by a famous architect named Stanford White. This house is very important because it is the only home that still exists from the life of Helena Modjeska. She was a well-known actress from Poland who performed in plays by William Shakespeare. The house sits in a beautiful area with oak trees next to Santiago Creek.

History of the Modjeska House
Historical Marker
Gallery
See also

History of the Modjeska House

Helena Modjeska came to America in 1876 from Poland with her husband, Count Karol Bozenta Chłapowski. She was a very busy actress. She wanted a peaceful place to relax when she was not performing on stage. So, she decided to build a large country house.

Building the House

Modjeska hired Stanford White, who was one of the best architects in America at the time. He designed a beautiful Victorian-style house for her. They named their new home "Arden". This name came from a forest in one of Shakespeare's plays, As You Like It. They also planted lovely gardens around the house. These gardens included olive trees, palm trees, and different kinds of flowers. The Modjeska family lived in this house from 1888 until 1906.

After Modjeska Left

After Helena Modjeska sold the house, many people were still interested in its history. Developers started selling parts of the land for vacation homes. In 1908, a man named Gustave A. Schweiger bought the house. He turned it into a bed and breakfast, where people could stay overnight. Later, in 1923, the Walker family from Long Beach bought the 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 is a very important place in California's history. In 1986, a group called the Orange County Harbors, Beaches and Parks Authority bought the property. They paid $1 million for the 14.4-acre area. Their goal was to make it a historical site for everyone to enjoy.

Before opening to the public, the house needed a lot of work. When it was first built, it did not have indoor plumbing or modern utilities. A big restoration project made the house ready for visitors. Today, you can visit the Modjeska House on special tours. You usually need to make a reservation to get directions and join a tour. In 1990, the Modjeska House was also named a National Historic Landmark. This means it is important to the history of the entire United States. The house was even shown on a TV show called Visiting... with Huell Howser.

Historical Marker

There is a special sign, called a marker, at the Modjeska House. It tells visitors about the history of the place. The marker says:

Famous as the home of Madame Modjeska, one of the world's great actresses, it was designed by Stanford White in 1888 on property called the Forest of Arden. Sold soon after her retirement, it remains a monument to the woman who contributed immeasurably to the cultural life of Orange County. This marker was put up by the California State Park Commission. (Marker Number 205.)