Tor House and Hawk Tower, Carmel (must see)
Tor House and Hawk Tower, located in Carmel, were the residence of poet Robinson Jeffers and his family from 1919 to 1999. These structures, often referred to collectively as Tor House, played a significant role in the development of Jeffers' poetic voice, inspiring not only his work but also many visitors over the years. Stewart Brand, founder of the Whole Earth Catalog, once described the house as a "poem-like masterpiece," noting its intelligence in design.
The Jeffers family moved into Tor House in August 1919, with Robinson Jeffers having apprenticed in its construction. The house, named after the granite outcrop or "tor" it was built upon, was situated on a piece of land Jeffers described as resembling the prow of a ship cutting through water. The influence of the Carmel area is evident in Jeffers' poetry, including works like "The Purse Seine," which reflects the local fishing industry.
Jeffers' daily routine involved writing poetry in the attic during the mornings and working on various construction projects in the afternoons, including the expansion of Tor House and the construction of Hawk Tower. After building a stone garage and wall, Jeffers embarked on the creation of Hawk Tower in 1920, completing the stonework by 1924 and the woodwork in 1925 with the help of a paid carpenter. He named the tower after a hawk that often appeared during the building process, a creature he later adopted as his symbol.
The construction of Hawk Tower coincided with a turning point in Jeffers' poetic career. While working on the tower, he compiled and printed a limited run of Tamar and Other Poems. Although initially unable to secure a major publisher, his work eventually gained recognition when editors from the Book Club of California discovered him. Today, Tor House and Hawk Tower remain landmarks that capture Jeffers' deep connection to the land and his evolution as a poet.
The Jeffers family moved into Tor House in August 1919, with Robinson Jeffers having apprenticed in its construction. The house, named after the granite outcrop or "tor" it was built upon, was situated on a piece of land Jeffers described as resembling the prow of a ship cutting through water. The influence of the Carmel area is evident in Jeffers' poetry, including works like "The Purse Seine," which reflects the local fishing industry.
Jeffers' daily routine involved writing poetry in the attic during the mornings and working on various construction projects in the afternoons, including the expansion of Tor House and the construction of Hawk Tower. After building a stone garage and wall, Jeffers embarked on the creation of Hawk Tower in 1920, completing the stonework by 1924 and the woodwork in 1925 with the help of a paid carpenter. He named the tower after a hawk that often appeared during the building process, a creature he later adopted as his symbol.
The construction of Hawk Tower coincided with a turning point in Jeffers' poetic career. While working on the tower, he compiled and printed a limited run of Tamar and Other Poems. Although initially unable to secure a major publisher, his work eventually gained recognition when editors from the Book Club of California discovered him. Today, Tor House and Hawk Tower remain landmarks that capture Jeffers' deep connection to the land and his evolution as a poet.
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Tor House and Hawk Tower on Map
Sight Name: Tor House and Hawk Tower
Sight Location: Carmel, USA (See walking tours in Carmel)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Carmel, USA (See walking tours in Carmel)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Carmel, California
Create Your Own Walk in Carmel
Creating your own self-guided walk in Carmel is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Wine Tasting Walk
While it takes no more than a dozen minutes to stroll from one corner of Carmel to the other, it is quite easy to get lost. There are no street numbers in Carmel but the wine bars and bottle shops are plentiful, and the tasting rooms are even more so 鈥� enough to keep visitors busy for days!
This charming city is indeed a bona fide wine tasting destination at its best! Regardless of your... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.7 Km or 0.4 Miles
This charming city is indeed a bona fide wine tasting destination at its best! Regardless of your... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.7 Km or 0.4 Miles
Carmel Introduction Walking Tour
Carmel-by-the-Sea, frequently referred to as Carmel, was founded as a mission in 1770 by Franciscan priests. Though the area was settled in small numbers before that date, it was fully colonized by priests Junipero Serra and Juan Crespi. Along with being the site of the mission, the city was capital of California until 1849.
Eventually, Carmel became a haven for artists who formed a colony in... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.8 Km or 3 Miles
Eventually, Carmel became a haven for artists who formed a colony in... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.8 Km or 3 Miles
Historical Buildings Walking Tour
Back in the early 1900s, little about Carmel-by-the-Sea rivaled the appeal of the magnificent ocean front. What is seen now as a quaint, European-like town on the coast of Central California, started off at the turn of the last century with the planting of 100 pine trees right down Main Street 鈥� today's Ocean Avenue. This was followed by the arrival of the young architect, Michael J.... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.8 Km or 0.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.8 Km or 0.5 Miles