ALL WRIGHT SPRING 2012 Welcome to the Dana-Thomas House Springfield's Dana-Thomas House is the best preserved and most complete of Frank Lloyd Wright's early "Prairie" houses. The structure has changed little since its construction in 1902-04 for Springfield socialite and women's activist Susan Lawrence Dana. More than one hundred pieces of original Wright-designed white oak furniture is still in place along with two hundred fifty art glass doors, windows, and light panels. Two hundred original light fixtures and skylights illuminate the interior. Original sculptures in terra cotta by Richard W. Bock ornament the vestibule and reception hall, and the only surviving, original George Niedecken mural in any Wright house graces the four dining room walls. The Dana-Thomas House is typical of the Prairie style, which is characterized on the exterior by low horizontal roofs, wide overhanging eaves, and rows of ribbon art glass windows. A raised main living level, open floor plan, and centralized fireplace and hearth are common features of the interior. "In 1902, Frank Lloyd Wright was commissioned to undertake the design and construction of a massive renovation of the Lawrence family home in Springfield, Illinois. The home was to be more than a mere residence -- it was to be a showcase. Upon its completion in 1904, the new edifice completely engulfed the original home. It immediately became a symbol of artistic and architectural excellence. It now stands as the finest example of the creativity and uniqueness characteristic of the Prairie School of Architec- ture." From Governor James R. Thompson's Executive Order August 23, 1983. Frank Lloyd Wright (1867- 1959) is America's most famous architect. He is known internationally as an innovative designer and a founder of the Prairie School of Architecture. Even after his death, the ranch style house was popular in the 1960s and 1970s. He is known for his careful attention to every detail of a building's design and was a perfectionist, hoping that his clients allow him to detail both the exteriors and interiors of their homes. Wright was born in Wisconsin and spent much of his childhood on the farms of his mother's family, where he grew to love the land. There he came to think of architecture as being governed by the same rules that govern nature, with each part related to the other. He also decided that buildings should be closely tied to the soil and natural site on which they were built. Educated in Wisconsin, Wright later moved to Chicago and then to Oak Park, Illinois in the 1880s. He worked with Chicago architect Joseph Silsbee and later with Louis Sullivan until he started his own independent career in 1893. Wright's most famous house design was built in the woods of western Pennsylvania in 1936. Named Fallingwater, the Kaufman Picture from side of Dana-Thomas
Transcript
ALL WRIGHTSPRING 2012
Welcome to theDana-ThomasHouseSpringfield's Dana-ThomasHouse is the best preservedand most complete of FrankLloyd Wright's early "Prairie"houses. The structure haschanged little since itsconstruction in 1902-04 forSpringfield socialite andwomen's activist SusanLawrence Dana. More thanone hundred pieces of originalWright-designed white oakfurniture is still in place alongwith two hundred fifty art glassdoors, windows, and lightpanels. Two hundred originallight fixtures and skylightsilluminate the interior. Originalsculptures in terra cotta byRichard W. Bock ornament thevestibule and reception hall,and the only surviving, originalGeorge Niedecken mural inany Wright house graces thefour dining room walls.
The Dana-Thomas House istypical of the Prairie style,which is characterized on theexterior by low horizontal roofs,wide overhanging eaves, androws of ribbon art glasswindows. A raised main livinglevel, open floor plan, andcentralized fireplace and hearthare common features of theinterior.
"In 1902, Frank Lloyd Wrightwas commissioned toundertake the design andconstruction of a massiverenovation of the Lawrencefamily home in Springfield,Illinois. The home was to bemore than a mere residence --it was to be a showcase. Uponits completion in 1904, the newedifice completely engulfed theoriginal home. It immediatelybecame a symbol of artisticand architectural excellence. Itnow stands as the finestexample of the creativity anduniqueness characteristic ofthe Prairie School of Architec-ture." From Governor James R.Thompson's Executive OrderAugust 23, 1983.
Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) is America's mostfamous architect. He is knowninternationally as an innovativedesigner and a founder of thePrairie School of Architecture.Even after his death, the ranchstyle house was popular in the1960s and 1970s. He is knownfor his careful attention to everydetail of a building's design andwas a perfectionist, hoping thathis clients allow him to detailboth the exteriors and interiorsof their homes.Wright was born in Wisconsinand spent much of hischildhood on the farms of hismother's family, where he grewto love the land. There hecame to think of architecture asbeing governed by the samerules that govern nature, witheach part related to the other.He also decided that buildingsshould be closely tied to thesoil and natural site on whichthey were built.Educated in Wisconsin, Wrightlater moved to Chicago andthen to Oak Park, Illinois in the1880s. He worked withChicago architect JosephSilsbee and later with LouisSullivan until he started hisown independent career in1893. Wright's most famoushouse design was built in thewoods of westernPennsylvania in 1936. NamedFallingwater, the Kaufman
Picture from side of Dana-Thomas
house is a dramaticallycantilevered home built over awaterfall.The structure is builts-ing native reinforced concrete,limestone, and glass. In all,Frank Lloyd Wright isresponsible for over 400buildings in 36 states and inJapan. Wright also foundedTaliesin East (near SpringGreen, WI) and Taliesin West(Scottsdale, AZ), homes andeducational facilities toaspiring architects thatcombined the practice ofarchitecture with education anda design ethic that permeatedthe lives of his students. It wasat Taliesin West that Wrightmet and hired Pedro Guerrero,who became his photographerfor the next 20 years.
Where is the Dana-Thomas House?
The Dana-Thomas House islocated in Springfield, Illinois.From Interstate 55, take theClear Lake Ave exit. Travelingwest on Clearlake Ave, turn left(south) onto 9th Street. Take9th Street to Cook Ave and turnright onto Cook. The parking lotfor the Dana-Thomas House isjust behind the YMCA building(which is on the corner of 4thand Cook Streets) and justpast the railroad tracks on theleft side of the street. Onceparked, you'll need to walk toLawrence Avenue (one blocksouth) and to the courtyardgate of the House (signs willdirect you).
Open for tours Wednesdaythrough Sunday, 9am to 4
pm.Frequently AskedQuestions
1. How often are toursgiven?Tours start as they fill. Theaverage wait time for a tour tobegin is ten minutes.2. What is the cost?There is a suggested donationof $3 for adults and $1 forchildren.3. Do I need reservations, orcan I make advance reserva-tions?Reservations are required forgroups of ten or more and maybe made by calling (217) 782-6773. No other reservationsare made or required.4. What are the hours?The site is open 9 AM until 4PM Wednesday throughSunday each week. Closed onsome holidays, please call inadvance (217) 782-6776 toinquire. Please note that thelast tour begins with a video at
approximately 3:45 PM.5. How long does the tourlast?The walking tour lasts about anhour. There is a seven minutevideo prior to the walking tour.Please plan 1.5 hours in yourschedule for your totalvisitation time.6. Are photographs allowed?Photographs may be takenoutside only. Cameras are notallowed on tour and may bechecked at the carriage house.7. Do you have a gift shop?The Sumac Shop, located inthe Carriage House has a niceselection of books, gifts,reproductions and souvenirs.You can also shop online atwww.sumacshop.com howeverthe shop carries a number ofunique items not availableonline.8. Can purchases in the shopbe shipped?Everything for sale in our shopcan be shipped, simply ask thestaff to ship your purchases.
9. Is there parking at thesite?Parking is available in the sitelot off of Cook Street just westof the YMCA building. Drivewest past the Y, over therailroad tracks and turn left intoour lot. Parking is free.10. Is the site available forrental?Due to severe budget cuts, theDana-Thomas House is notavailable for non-site relatedspecial usage at this time.11. Can I contact the site di-rectly?The site is staffed seven daysper week except holidays. Thenumber is (217) 782-6776For any other questions pleasecall the site at (217) 782-6776.
So come out and see us!
We would love to see you!
Front Intrance to Dana-Thomas House
Andrew Coleman1500 S. 5th StreetSpringfield, IL 62702
