Modjeska House, Historic Victorian residence in Modjeska Canyon, California.
Modjeska House is a white wooden home built in the Queen Anne style, set above Santiago Creek in Modjeska Canyon, Orange County, California. It features steep roofs, decorative woodwork, wraparound porches, and balconies that open toward the surrounding canyon.
The house was designed in 1888 by architect Stanford White for Polish actress Helena Modjeska and her husband Count Karol Chlapowski as a country retreat. The couple used it as a private refuge from the theater stages of the East Coast cities.
The estate takes its name Arden from the forest in Shakespeare's As You Like It, reflecting Modjeska's career in classical theater productions. Visitors can still see how the theatrical backdrop influenced the design of the surrounding landscape today.
The house can only be visited on guided tours arranged in advance through the Orange County Parks Department. Tour availability changes by season, so booking ahead is a good idea to avoid missing out.
The house was featured in an episode of the public television series Visiting... with Huell Howser, episode 920. The original house had no indoor plumbing or utilities before a major restoration was carried out ahead of its opening to the public.
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