Guided Tour of Tao House (U.S. National Park Service)

Tao House Courtyard Entrance
Tory Starling NPS

Exploring Tao House: A Ranger-Guided Journey into the World of Eugene O’Neill

Please note that reservations are required in advance for this tour.
Guided by a knowledgeable ranger, visitors can explore the secluded refuge of Eugene O’Neill, America’s only Nobel Prize-winning playwright, who was deeply haunted by his past. Behind the three distinctive red doors of Tao House, O’Neill wrote some of his most celebrated and powerful works, including Long Day’s Journey into Night, The Iceman Cometh, and A Moon for the Misbegotten. This historic two-story home, built for the O’Neills in 1936, features Spanish Hacienda-style architecture and is adorned with Asian-inspired furnishings. During the ranger-guided tour, participants will learn about O’Neill’s life and literary achievements while discovering the historic grounds, which include a serene courtyard, an old swimming pool, orchards, and the Old Barn, where the O’Neill Foundation stages annual performances of his plays.

Maximum of 2 hrs. round trip from Downtown Danville at NPS shuttle stop.

Guided by a knowledgeable ranger, visitors can explore the secluded refuge of Eugene O’Neill, America’s only Nobel Prize-winning playwright, who was deeply haunted by his past. Behind the three distinctive red doors of Tao House, O’Neill wrote some of his most celebrated and powerful works, including Long Day’s Journey into Night, The Iceman Cometh, and A Moon for the Misbegotten. This historic two-story home, built for the O’Neills in 1936, features Spanish Hacienda-style architecture and is adorned with Asian-inspired furnishings. During the ranger-guided tour, participants will learn about O’Neill’s life and literary achievements while discovering the historic grounds, which include a serene courtyard, an old swimming pool, orchards, and the Old Barn, where the O’Neill Foundation stages annual performances of his plays. Please note that reservations are required in advance for this tour.

All are welcome!

Dogs allowed outdoors, must be on a leash on NPS property.

Only Service Dogs* are allowed in the historic home.

*NPS policy defines a service animal as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. The tasks performed by the animal must be directly related to the person’s disability.

Park entrance, shuttle, house and tours are always free of charge.

Occasional special events, such as the O'Neill Festival (produced by the Eugene O'Neill Foundation) require paid tickets.

The Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site, located in Danville, California. Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site is only accessible by National Park Service Shuttle. Visitors are not permitted to drive their personal/private vehicles to the site. Advance reservations are required for tours.

Reservations are required for guided tours of the site. Self-guided tours are offered Wednesday-Sundays. Due to the location of this park, all visitors are required to take a free National Park Service shuttle from the town of Danville to tour the historic home and grounds. Visitors are not permitted to drive their personal/private vehicles to the site.

Please send us an email or call with the dates and times that you would like to tour the site, as well as your phone number and number of guests. It is best to reserve at least 24 hours in advance.

We will call or email to confirm your reservation: If you do not hear from us within a few days (we are closed Monday and Tuesday), please give us a call or check your Spam folder to make sure your reservation was not sent there.

Note on Accessibility: Please include in your reservation request if you or any of your party have accessibility needs before visiting the site. This will help park rangers be prepared for your visit.

Reservation Line: (925) 228-8860 x6422
Please call the above temporary number (John Muir National Historic Site) and dial x6422 to request your reservation.

Open Year Round

Visitors with physical/mobility needs:

Visitors are picked up in NPS vehicles that are equipped with wheelchair lifts. Benches outside and chairs inside Tao house provide for resting in the park and on tours. An upstairs video tour of Tao house is available in the downstairs dining room for visitors not able to climb stairs. Handrails on steps are available inside and outside. A park wheelchair is also available. The park is fairly level, giving access to park wayside exhibits. Additionally, self-guided tour signs are available to be placed throughout the tour, on request.

Information for People Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing:

Visitors have park waysides, park handouts, self-guided tour signs and the internet for information about the park. Rangers are able to modulate their voice volume during tours.The upstairs video tour of Tao house is closed captioned, and is available with personal amplifiers.

Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site is dedicated to providing a rich experience for all visitors, and we are happy to offer sign language interpretation for public programs upon request. Because we do not have a sign language interpreter on staff, please contact the park with your request at least two weeks in advance of your visit, or when you’re making your tour reservation.

Blind/Low vision:

Park wayside exhibits are in large fonts for easy reading. Large print Unigrid brochures of Eugene O'Neill NHS are available, as well a braille version, upond request.

Learning disability:

All tours are led with the visitor (s) in mind. Park Rangers are able to adapt to visitor interpretive needs. Contact the park by email or phone to request modifcations prior to your tour, or speak to a ranger once you've arrived at the park.

Sign-Language

Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site is dedicated to providing a rich experience for all visitors, and we are happy to offer sign language interpretation for public programs upon request. Because we do not have a sign language interpreter on staff, please contact the park with your request at least two weeks in advance of your visit, or when you’re making your tour reservation.

Contact Us

Please use this email link to contact a park ranger
or to request a brochure. You may also call us at
the listed number:
(925) 228-8860 x6422
Click here to email the park

Mailing Address:
Eugene O'Neill NHS
P.O. Box 280
Danville, CA 94526

Guided Tour of Tao House