And Now for Something Different- Frank Lloyd Wright

While we were in Spring Green, we made a detour over to a place we like -- the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor's Center. The Visitor's Center is the starting point for tours to FLLW's Taliesin, the home, school and studio he built (and rebuilt) early in the 1900s. We took the tour many years ago, and would like to do it again, but we didn't go on this past trip. The Visitor's Center was originally a restaurant -- the only restaurant designed by FLLW -- but now houses a gift shop and cafe. This picture is from a stop we made here last year -- those are my sons on the grounds outside the Center.

Wright's principles of integrating design with nature are evident in the Center. There's a great view of the Wisconsin River from the full wall of windows:

Kevin and I have always enjoyed going to see FLLW properties -- when we were first married, we went on the Oak Park Wright Housewalk, which was very interesting; and then down to Springfield, IL and a tour of the Dana-Thomas House, not built by Wright, but completely redone by him. We're thinking about taking a trip next summer to go see Fallingwater, his masterpiece in Pennsylvania (on the way to Cooperstown to see the Baseball Hall of Fame).

After the Visitor's Center, we drove over to what is now the House on the Rock Resort. It was originally the Springs Resort, and is designed to resemble FLLW's architecture, but was purchased several years ago by the House on the Rock (which we went to on last year's trip). There are duplex and condo homes -- and some private homes, I think -- built around the beautiful golf courses, and we toured one of the duplexes that's for sale. What a beautiful area! This is a picture from the back of that home, overlooking the golf course.

Then it was on to Capn Bill's, which I told you about earlier, and home!