The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust is at it again. And this time, the organization will venture to destinations off the beaten path to view architectural gems.
Dedicated to renewing the legacy of visionary Frank Lloyd Wright through programs about architecture, design, and culture, the trust will host a “Wright in the Region” tour series beginning Aug. 18, featuring Wright properties in Kankakee, Ill.; Rockford; and Racine, Wis.
Working with preservation committees at each site, the trust hopes to engage local Wright fans and teach them about the legendary properties beyond their usual scope of vision.
“Some of these other houses aren’t as known, so we’re hoping to provide some access and knowledge to these properties,” said Laura Dodd, director of operations and guest experience at the trust. “They are local treasures and local gems that are off the beaten track.”
Carefully selected by trust staff leaders, the sites will features a range of Wright properties from his early to later career days, enabling attendees to witness Wright’s experimentation with design over time. At each tour, guides will talk about architectural elements, property history, original owners, design details and restoration.
“We know (these sites) are exciting,” Dodd said. “We know they are interesting. We know people will be excited to go, so we feel confident having this as our kickoff.”
As the first trip of the series, “Wright on the River” will feature a daylong excursion to Kankakee, where guests will tour the B. Harley Bradley House on Aug. 18. Wright used the tallgrass prairie that surrounds Kankakee as the inspiration for this 1900 design, which is considered Wright’s first Prairie-style home. Not only did the Bradley House serve as a residence, but it also housed a birdhouse factory in the stable, a popular restaurant and a law office throughout its colorful history.
After an in-depth tour of the home led by the nonprofit group Wright In Kankakee, guests will have the chance to explore the railroad and river town on a neighborhood walk as well as embark on a boat tour on the Kankakee River.
“Wright’s Accessible Usonian,” the sophomore trip of the “Wright in the Region” triad, will showcase Wright’s only handicapped accessible design, the Laurent Home, on Sept. 22 in Rockford. The Usonian arrangement, which Wright famously branded, worked perfectly for this 1952 structure because of its open floor plans on a single level.
After the house tour led by The Laurent House Foundation, attendees will visit the William Pettit Chapel in Belvidere. The building has all the elements of Wright’s classic Prairie-style designs, including a central fireplace, continuous bands of windows and wood trim.
The final tour on Oct. 20, “Wright in the Modern Workplace,” features the S.C. Johnson Administration Building and Research Tower in Racine, Wis., built in 1936 and 1944, respectively. The Wright-designed workspaces transformed the company and these Johnson Wax buildings are among the top 25 buildings of the 20th century.
Following the company-led S.C. Johnson tour, guests will explore Wright’s last and largest Prairie-style house, the Wingspread, just north of the S.C. Johnson campus.
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During each trip, attendees will have the opportunity to discuss Wright’s works with trust experts in more detail over lunch. Whether guests are hardcore Wright fans or curious newcomers to the Wright world, all are welcome to learn and explore the history and art of each space, Dodd said.
“We really do have a wonderful region and a lot to do here,” she said. “What we have in Chicago and Oak Park isn’t (all of) it.”
The “Wright in the Region” day trips are scheduled for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 18, Sept. 22 and Oct. 20. Tickets are $150 for Frank Lloyd Wright Trust members and $175 for nonmembers. Transportation and lunch are included in the ticket.
For more information, call 312-994-4000 or go to flwright.org.