Monte Cristo Cottage

Monte Cristo Cottage is a Queen Anne-style house with extended wooden porches built in the 1840s. The interior displays furnishings, personal items, and exhibits that document the life and literary work of the writer who lived here.

The house was purchased in 1884 by James O'Neill, a well-known actor, who used it as a summer home for his family. His son spent crucial years there from 1900 to 1917 writing early works that later shaped American dramatic literature.

The name comes from James O'Neill's famous stage role, and visitors can see the rooms where the writer processed his creative ideas. Objects throughout the house connect to Irish-American theater history and show how an artistic family lived together.

The house can be visited through guided tours, and it helps to check opening hours ahead of time. The location is walkable from the street and is best explored by taking time to see the porches and ground floor thoroughly.

The house is named after a theater role and holds the memory of when a young writer first discovered his creative powers and began producing early plays here. This connection between the setting and the birth of a major literary career makes the site particularly meaningful to theater enthusiasts.

Location: New London

Architectural style: Queen Anne style architecture in the United States

GPS coordinates: 41.33194,-72.09625

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:40