TALIESIN EAST, SPRING GREEN, WI

Frank Lloyd Wright was an architectural genius who developed a whole new motif for the American home -- the Prairie style. The buildings were low, built into the earth, not on top of the hill, but on its brow, close to nature. He made his entryways as low as 6 feet so that people would not linger, but would quickly step into the expansive living space with its cathedral ceiling. He was quirky, eccentric, abundantly self-confident, persuasive, brilliant – as illustrated by these anecdotes told to us by our guide, a 25 year summer resident of Taliesin East.

Who at the age of 17 told his parents as he was leaving that he was going to be the world’s most famous architect – and indeed returned to build Taliesin East on lands that were part of the original family farm? FLW.

Who, in his late 80’s, told the American Architectural Association in a speech accepting its gold medal award that they had waited too long to select him as their honoree ? FLW.

Who developed a school, drafting shop, and farm with apprentices and fellows all of whom worked for no pay as part of their duties? FLW.

Who took out the furnaces from the Taliesin East buildings in Spring Green, Wisconsin so that the apprentices and fellows would have to migrate with him to Taliesin West in Arizona for the winter? FLW.

Who built a new room on his house in two weeks flat to host Mr. Guggenheim who was coming to discuss a new museum for New York City? FLW.

Who slept in a small narrow bed in a small room in his home because he thought bedrooms were a waste of space? FLW.

Who, when he contracted to build a house for a client, would also insist that he, as the architect, would select all the interior furnishings and could come to the house unannounced in later years to check that no changes were made in his plan? FLW.

Who replaced his black and white Holstein cows with brown Guernsey cows, even though they produced less milk, so that the animals would better blend into the landscape? FLW.

Next road trip --- Taliesin West!!