Frank Lloyd Wright left an indelible signature on the American Midwest: a legacy of buildings that trace the arc of his career as one of the world’s most significant and innovative architects. This 5-day tour led by historian Bill Keene offers a one-of-kind opportunity for a close-up look at a wide range of Wright’s designs in Illinois and Wisconsin, as well as visits to seminal works by other architects of the early and mid-20th century.
Highlights of the tour are visits to four of the eight Wright masterworks on the UNESCO World Heritage List: Unity Temple, his first religious structure; the Frederick C. Robie House, a gem in Wright’s signature Prairie style; Taliesin, Wright’s home, studio, school, and estate in Wisconsin; and the Herbert and Katherine Jacobs House, his first work of Usonian domestic architecture.
In addition to site visits, an architectural boat tour of Chicago places Wright’s designs in the context of the history-making works by the myriad architects who defined its urban identity. And even the tour’s hotel in Wisconsin has a Wright connection—literally. The Hilton Madison Monona Terrace is linked by skywalk to the waterfront civic center designed by Wright in 1938, a project that took 59 years to become a reality.
Highlights of this unique visit designed for architecture lovers:
Illinois
- Unity Temple (Oak Park)
- The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio (Oak Park)
- Frederick C. Robie House (Chicago)
- The Edith Farnsworth House (Plano; designed by Mies van der Rohe)
- The Auditorium Theater, backstage visit (Chicago; designed by Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler)
Wisconsin
- SC Johnson Administration Building and Research Tower (Racine)
- Herbert and Katherine Jacobs House (Madison)
- Taliesin and Hillside School (Spring Green)
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit*
Know Before You Go
- This tour begins Sunday, May 19 at 6 p.m. with dinner in Chicago and ends Thursday, May 23 with an afternoon transfer to the Chicago O'Hare Airport (around 4 p.m.).
- Cost includes 4 nights of accommodations, bus transportation, services of a study leader and Smithsonian representative, 11 meals (4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners), gratuities, taxes, and entrance fees.
- Important Note: Flights are not included; participants make independent flight arrangements to Chicago. Once the tour has reached its minimum registration, participants will be notified and encouraged to purchase airline tickets. This will occur no later than 60 days prior to the start of the program. Additional information will be sent via email. Participants are advised to purchase trip insurance from a provider of their choice.
- Single-room supplement $450 (factored into the Single Room Member and Single Room Non-Member pricing).
- Singles registering at the double-room rate are paired (on a nonsmoking basis) if possible, but must pay the single-room supplement otherwise.
- Detailed information is emailed to registrants about several weeks prior to departure.
- Participants are advised to purchase travel insurance for overnight and multi-day tours from a provider of your choice. Travel insurance provides additional coverage against unforeseen incidents that require last-minute cancellations.
General Information
- Registration for this tour will end by 2 p.m. ET on Friday, May 17, 2024.
- Smithsonian Associates is a mask-friendly environment. Please feel free to bring and wear a mask at any time during a tour, both for your safety or the safety of others.
- For additional tour information:
*Enrolled participants in the World Art History Certificate Program receive 1 elective credit. Not yet enrolled? Learn about the program, its benefits, and how to register here
