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.