Modjeska House
Also known as: Forest of Arden
Why it's listed
Arden, also called the Forest of Arden, is a white-painted wood house with outbuildings and gardens set among live oak and sycamore woodland in Modjeska Canyon, Orange County. Built in 1888, it served as the ranch home of the Polish-born Shakespearean actress Helena Modjeska and her husband Karol Bozenta Chlapowski, who lived there between theatrical tours until 1906. Modjeska named it after the Forest of Arden in As You Like It. Her memoirs credit Stanford White with the design, though this has not been confirmed elsewhere. Guests included pianist Ignace Jan Paderewski, members of the Barrymore family, Edwin Booth and members of the Otis Skinner family. Modjeska also took part in local benefit performances, training amateur performers and lending costumes. The property keeps redwood interior walls, original beds, a dining table, a stone-lined wine cellar and a small hexagonal house thought to be a Polish milk house.
Significance in brief: It was the retreat of Shakespearean actress Helena Modjeska and her husband Karol Bozenta Chlapowski from 1888 to 1906. They lived there between theatrical tours, and the house hosted well-known guests. Modjeska was also active in local benefit performances.
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 72000244, listed December 11, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Modjeska Canyon Rd., Modjeska |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | December 11, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000244 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1888-1906 |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture, Performing Arts, European |
| Level of significance | National, State |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 14, 1990 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as fair, with the house and grounds maintained in good condition; one downstairs room has an added bank of windows. Occupied as a private residence at the time of nomination. |
| Acreage | 14 |
| Coordinates | 33.70865, -117.62430 (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 72000244.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6889473
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.