Monte Cristo Cottage facts for kids
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Monte Cristo Cottage (Eugene O'Neill Summer House)
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The home in 2018
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 325 Pequot Avenue, New London, Connecticut |
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| Built | 1888 |
| Architectural style | Stick/Eastlake, Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 71001010 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 17, 1971 |
| Designated NHL | July 17, 1971 |
Monte Cristo Cottage is a special house in New London, Connecticut. It was the summer home for the famous American actor James O'Neill and his family. His son, Eugene O'Neill, who became a very important writer, grew up spending summers here. This historic house is now a National Historic Landmark.
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History of the Cottage
James O'Neill, a well-known actor, came to New London, Connecticut in June 1884. He bought two pieces of land on Pequot Avenue. This was a birthday gift for his wife, Ella. The property already had a small cottage built in the 1840s.
James O'Neill made the cottage much bigger. It became a two-story house with a wide porch. A tall tower with a pointed roof stands next to the porch. This house was the main family home during Eugene O'Neill's childhood summers.
Eugene O'Neill's Childhood Home
As a child, Eugene O'Neill traveled a lot with his father. His father was an actor who toured from city to city. But every summer, the family would return to this special cottage. They named it "Monte Cristo Cottage" after the famous play The Count of Monte Cristo. Eugene's father starred in this play for many years.
Eugene O'Neill likely wrote his first two plays while staying here. The cottage is also the setting for two of his most famous plays. These plays are Ah, Wilderness! and Long Day's Journey into Night. Long Day's Journey into Night won him the 1957 Pulitzer Prize for Drama after he passed away.
The Cottage Today
The Monte Cristo Cottage was named a National Historic Landmark in 1971. This was because of its strong connection to Eugene O'Neill. In 1976, the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center bought the house.
Today, the center runs the cottage as a historic house museum. It is decorated to look just like it did in Long Day's Journey into Night. Visitors can see exhibits about Eugene O'Neill's life and his plays. The museum also displays items and memories from his life. This includes the desk where he wrote his play Anna Christie, which also won him a Pulitzer Prize.
Images for kids
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Sign at the cottage
See also
