Tao House
Also known as: Eugene O'Neill House
Why it's listed
Tao House is a long, L-shaped residence set on a small plateau high on Las Trampas Ridge, overlooking the San Ramon Valley and Mount Diablo near Danville, California. Eugene O'Neill and his wife Carlotta Monterey O'Neill moved in during October 1937. Mrs. O'Neill designed the home with architect Frederick Confer as a "pseudo-Chinese house," using rough-faced concrete blocks, a low black tile roof, red-painted shutters, a walled courtyard and red tile floors. Here O'Neill wrote The Iceman Cometh and A Moon for the Misbegotten, and Long Day's Journey Into Night, and he completed several other plays. Many critics regard him as the central figure in the maturing of American drama. Wartime hardships and his health led the couple to leave in late 1943. Later owners made modest changes and turned the estate into a ranch, yet the site retains much of the mood its first occupants sought. The study remains among the least-altered rooms.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that Tao House is the place where O'Neill, considered a central figure in American drama, did his final and some of his best work, including The Iceman Cometh and Long Day's Journey Into Night. The seven years there were perhaps the longest period of relative happiness in his life. Later changes did not affect the essential character or setting of the property.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 71000137, listed May 6, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1.5 mi. W of Danville, Danville |
|---|---|
| County | Contra Costa County |
| Listed | May 6, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000137 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1937-1944 |
| Architect / builder | Frederick Confer (architect), in conjunction with Mrs. O'Neill |
| Architectural style | Described as "a sort of pseudo-Chinese house" with a Chinese motif |
| Areas of significance | Literature |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated July 17, 1971 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and altered, on its original site; described as part of a working ranch with later barns and pasturage. Present use is marked as private residence. |
| Acreage | 158.6 |
| Coordinates | 37.82462, -122.02969 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 71000137.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14681956
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.