Chicago, Illinois: Frank Lloyd Wright tours; things to do

Frank Lloyd Wright tours in Chicago

Frank Lloyd Wright spent the first 20 years of his career in Chicago.

●Home and Studio  

951 Chicago Ave., in Oak Park.  Admission to the Frank Lloyd Wright home and studio is by guided tour only.  You can also take a neighborhood walking tour and visit nearby Unity Temple.   For the first 20 years of Wright's career, this house was the sanctuary where he designed and executed more than 130 buildings.  Wright built the simple shingled cottage in 1889 at age 22 for his bride.  He remodeled the house constantly until 1911, when he left his wife and six children.  It features a barrel-vaulted children's playroom and a studio with an octagonal balcony suspended by chains.  Allow 1 hour for the tour.

●Frederick C. Robie House  

5757 S. Woodlawn Ave., on U. of C. campus.  Completed in 1910, the Frederick C. Robie House--the quintessential Prairie house--is described as featuring “sweeping horizontal planes, dramatic cantilevers and long ribbons of art glass windows.”  One French man was moved to exclaim, “Ooh la la!”  Another Wright house is nearby on Woodlawn/51st, 2 blocks from President Barack Obama’s house.


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image depicts Robie House, copyright 2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers
updated 1-14-18