Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) revolutionized 20th-century architecture through his pioneering Prairie School style and organic architecture philosophy. His career spanned seven decades, during which he designed over 1,000 structures, championing the idea that buildings should harmonize with their environment.
Wright’s signature elements included horizontal lines, open floor plans, natural materials, and extensive use of glass to blur the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces. Here are the best Frank Lloyd Wright buildings that you can tour.
1. Fallingwater, Pennsylvania
Perhaps Wright’s most famous creation, this stunning home in Mill Run, Pennsylvania, appears to float above a waterfall. Built between 1936-1939, Fallingwater exemplifies Wright’s organic architecture philosophy, incorporating the natural surroundings into its design through cantilevers and local sandstone.
This iconic American house was commissioned by Edgar Kaufmann Sr., a prominent Pittsburgh businessman, and cost $155,000 to build – equivalent to about $2.9 million today. Visitors can take both regular and in-depth tours of the property, which include the guest house and spectacular grounds.
2. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York State
This iconic New York City landmark revolutionized museum design with its spiral ramp gallery and distinctive white exterior. Completed in 1959, the Guggenheim represents Wright’s interpretation of modernist architecture and his belief in organic forms.
The unique spiral design of this American museum allows visitors to view artwork while descending along a continuous ramp, creating a revolutionary approach to art exhibition. The building took 16 years to complete and opened just months after Wright’s death, standing as one of his final masterpieces.
3. Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio, Illinois
Located in Oak Park, Illinois, this complex served as Wright’s primary residence and studio from 1889 to 1909. Here, he developed his Prairie School style and designed many of his famous early works.
The playroom he designed for his children features a dramatic barrel-vaulted ceiling and showcases his early experiments with built-in furniture and light screens. The studio wing, added in 1898, includes a dramatic two-story drafting room where Wright and his apprentices created some of the most innovative designs of the early 20th century.
4. Dana-Thomas House State Historic Site, Illinois
This Springfield, Illinois home represents one of the most complete examples of Wright’s Prairie style. Built in 1902, it features over 100 pieces of original Wright-designed furniture and more than 250 art glass windows.
The 12,000-square-foot house was commissioned by Susan Lawrence Dana, a forward-thinking socialite and philanthropist who gave Wright complete creative control over the project. The home’s entertainment wing includes a gallery and dining room that could accommodate up to 100 guests for Dana’s legendary social gatherings.
5. Frederick C. Robie House, Illinois
Considered the finest example of Prairie School architecture, this Chicago residence features dramatic horizontal lines and extensive use of art glass. Its innovative open floor plans would influence modern architecture for decades to come.
The house’s cantilevered roofs were so daring for 1910 that building inspectors initially refused to believe they would hold up without support. Wright himself fought twice to save the building from demolition in the 1940s and 1950s, leading to its recognition as a crucial landmark of modern architecture.
6. ASU Gammage, Arizona
One of Wright’s last major works, this performing arts center in Tempe, Arizona, showcases his later style with its dramatic circular forms and desert-inspired design. Originally conceived for Baghdad, Iraq, the building was adapted for Arizona State University.
The auditorium’s acoustics are so precisely designed that a whisper on stage can be heard in the last row of the balcony. The building’s unique circular ramps and geometric patterns were inspired by the Baghdad opera house design, giving the desert campus a touch of Middle Eastern influence.
7. Taliesin, Wisconsin
Wright’s personal estate in Spring Green, Wisconsin, served as both his home and architectural laboratory. Built in 1911 and rebuilt after two fires, Taliesin exemplifies his organic architecture principles and connection to the landscape.
The name “Taliesin” means “shining brow” in Welsh. This refers to the building’s position on the brow of a hill rather than its summit. The estate encompasses 800 acres and includes a working farm, demonstrating Wright’s belief in sustainable living and agricultural preservation.
8. Taliesin West, Arizona
Wright’s winter home and school in Scottsdale, Arizona, demonstrates his ability to integrate architecture with the desert environment. Built in 1937, it continues to house the School of Architecture at Taliesin.
Wright and his apprentices gathered rocks from the desert floor to construct the buildings, integrating local materials and indigenous design patterns. The complex was built entirely by Wright and his apprentices, who lived in canvas tents during the initial construction phase.
9. The Rookery Lobby, Illinois
While not designing the entire building, Wright’s 1905 renovation of this Chicago landmark’s lobby transformed the Victorian interior into a masterpiece of light and modern design. His innovative use of white marble, glass, and gilded ironwork created a stunning contrast with the building’s original red marble and ironwork.
Wright’s redesign cleverly preserved the original iron columns while wrapping them in white marble and bronze, creating an elegant transition between old and new styles.
10. SC Johnson Administration Building, Wisconsin
This corporate headquarters in Racine, Wisconsin, features innovative dendriform columns and extensive use of glass tubing. The unique workspace still feels modern today.
The “lily pad” columns were load-tested with 60 tons of weight to prove their structural integrity to skeptical building inspectors. The building’s 43 miles of Pyrex glass tubing allow natural light to flood the workspace while providing insulation, an innovative solution for the time.
11. Hollyhock House, California
Wright’s first Los Angeles project incorporates pre-Columbian influences and California’s indoor-outdoor lifestyle. The design includes stylized hollyhock flowers, the client Aline Barnsdall’s favorite plant.
The house was recently restored to its 1920s glory with a $4.3 million project that recovered original colors and decorative elements. The house was Los Angeles’s first UNESCO World Heritage site, recognized for its influence on modern architecture.
12. Unity Temple, Illinois
This Oak Park, Illinois church demonstrates Wright’s innovative use of reinforced concrete and his ability to create inspiring sacred spaces through geometric forms and natural light. The structure was one of the first public buildings in America to use exposed concrete, a radical departure from traditional church architecture.
The recent $25 million restoration revealed Wright’s original color palette and restored the building’s 16 layered art glass skylights.
13. Monona Terrace, Wisconsin
Though not completed until 1997, Wright’s original 1938 design for this Madison, Wisconsin civic center showcases his vision for public architecture that connects to both city and nature. Wright submitted five different designs over 21 years before the project was finally approved.
This impressive structure was only built after his death, by his apprentice Anthony Puttnam. The rooftop garden and cafe offer spectacular views of Lake Monona and host community events year-round, fulfilling Wright’s vision of public space.
14. First Unitarian Society of Madison, Wisconsin
This Madison, Wisconsin church was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and constructed by Marshall Erdman. The U.S. National Landmark shows Wright’s ability to create spiritual spaces that combine geometric forms with natural materials and light.
The triangular roof form was inspired by hands clasped in prayer, creating a powerful symbolic element. The congregation still actively uses the building today, which has undergone careful restoration to preserve Wright’s original vision while adapting to modern needs.
15. The Rosenbaum House, Alabama
Located in Florence, Alabama, this Usonian home represents Wright’s vision for beautiful, affordable middle-class housing. Built in 1939, it features his characteristic use of natural materials and integration with the landscape.
The house was saved from deterioration in the 1990s through a $600,000 city-funded restoration project, making it one of the few Wright homes owned by a municipality. The original owners lived in the house for 50 years, and much of their Wright-designed furniture remains in place.
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