From growing up in Belgium to moving to Chicago, architecture has been an interest of Marie Olmos for most of her life.
“Coming from Europe I was educated and visiting places, museums and things like that, and when you’re in Chicago, one of the most interesting things is architecture,” she said.
She’s traveled to other places to be a volunteer at different historical buildings to share her passion with others who she can learn from whether they’re architects or historians themselves.
Olmos was one of about 20 people training to become volunteer interpreters in Oak Park at renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio through the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust.
Volunteers spent about two hours on Thursday learning about tips and tricks to being a volunteer while also diving into the history and artistry of Wright’s home and studio, and other buildings he designed in the village and beyond. More than 400 of Wright’s buildings remain across 35 states.
There are three training classes along with other prerequisites to become a volunteer interpreter and to lead tours at the historic site, but after her first session, Olmos said she’s looking forward to learning more.
“I like to encounter people who are educated,” she said.
She became interested in volunteering when she wanted to find new ways to spend her time. She tapped into her passion from long ago and volunteered at an open house, and things took off from there.
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Conor Jansen, the volunteer resources administrator at the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust, said certification for the new trainees takes about eight weeks.
Volunteers started giving tours in 1974, and while Jansen only started training others four years ago, he’s found that the people that volunteer and the guests that take the tours are “are coming from all walks of life,” he said.
He’s come across people who are architects, interior designers and people who just love Chicago history.
“The people who come through here, not just the volunteers, but the guests who come on tours, and I would say staff and the members of the Frank Lloyd Wright Trusts, are all really fascinating people who are, across the board, intellectually stimulated by such different things,” Jansen said. “They come here for all kinds of different reasons and that’s what makes the tours here so cool.”
Besides leading volunteer training in Oak Park, Jansen also leads the volunteer effort at Wright’s Frederick C. Robie House in Hyde Park.
He’s learned a lot from giving the tours over the years and is appreciative for the people that go on the tours and the volunteers.
“I love the work that we’re doing, sharing this with the local community,” he said.
Sean Pittacora recently moved to Oak Park, but has always had an appreciation for architecture from growing up in the Chicago area.
His great-grandmother, he said, lived in a home designed by R. Harold Zook, another celebrated architect who worked in Chicago, which was a “unique experience” for Pittacora.
He admires Wright’s work throughout the city and in the suburbs which led him to wanting to volunteer.
“I’m really most looking forward to sharing my passion and how cool this is with other people visiting Oak Park,” Pittacora said. “We kind of have a unique opportunity in that people are coming to visit us and learn about our cool little village.”
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