The Wright Stuff

Today, I’m packing two road trips into one column.  Read on and you’ll understand why.

Are you one of those people who likes to go for a Sunday drive or an afternoon bike ride or maybe an early morning walk to look at houses?  No, no, no, not in a voyeuristic way… to take in the interesting architecture.  There are a few areas in Erie that have some magnificent older homes – some with historical significance and some are just plain cool looking for no other reason than they aren’t your run-of-the-mill cookie-cutter houses.  The ones that have been kept up and/or were lovingly restored are really quite beautiful.  Take a walk downtown someday and pay attention to the buildings.  Now that I think of it, this sounds like the perfect topic for another I’m Bored column.  Maybe next week? 

At any rate, I adore interesting architecture, especially that of Frank Lloyd Wright, which has led me to visit some really awe-inspiring architecture.  Erie has some Frank Lloyd Wright homes practically in our back yard.

Arguably the most well-known American architect, Wright has had more publicity than any other architect I can think of.  He’s been the subject of numerous documentaries and books, and it was even rumored at one time that Howard Roark, the architect in Ayn Rand’s famous novel, The Fountainhead, was fashioned after Wright.  Rand, however, denied this. 

I think most Erieites are familiar with Fallingwater, the home Wright designed for Edgar & Liliane Kaufmann of Pittsburgh (yes, the department store Kaufmanns).  Next to Taliesin, Fallingwater might be Wright’s most famous design. Located in Mill Run, Pennsylvania, it’s just a hop, skip, and a jump from Pittsburgh.  And everyone in Erie knows how to get to Pittsburgh, right?  It’s approximately a three-hour drive from Erie so, depending on your mode of transportation, it might be pushing it for a “one-tank trip,” but hang on.  Stay with me.  There are other options.

Just down the road a ways in Chalk Hill is The Hagan House, a/k/a Kentuck Knob, one of Wright’s last designs. 

Both Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob are open for public tours or varying lengths, including brunches, sunset tours, and private tours.  They are also available to rent for special occasions, such as weddings, reunions, or meetings. 

If Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob are too far for you but you would still like to see some of Wright’s work up close, have no fear!  Unbeknownst to many Erieites, there are several other Wright creations that are open to the public.  Just travel down the road a piece to our Lake Erie neighbor, Buffalo, New York. 

First, there’s the Darwin Martin House.  Located on Jewett Parkway, if you’re familiar with the Buffalo Zoo, you’re familiar with the area where the Darwin Martin House is located.  It’s in a lovely neighborhood and, if you go, I highly recommend taking a walk around.  In addition to the Darwin Martin House and the other Wright structures connected with it, you’ll see private homes that look very similar in style to the Martin House, except on a much smaller scale.  Even the ones that are built in a more mainstream design are quite lovely.

Then, just outside of Buffalo in Derby, New York, built on a cliff overlooking Lake Erie, is a Wright design known as Graycliff.  It was originally built as a summer home for the Darwin Martin family.

And now, there’s a third Wright structure available for public viewing in Buffalo.  Quite recently, one of Wright’s designs that had never come to fruition – a boathouse – was built in Buffalo and is also open for public tours.

But wait!  There’s even more!

If you’re interested in the Arts & Crafts style (sometimes referred to as Mission style), there’s much more for you to see in the Buffalo area.  Located in East Aurora, a suburb of Buffalo, is the Roycroft Campus, the home of the Arts & Crafts movement.  And while you’re there, don’t forget to stop in The Roycroft Inn for lunch, dinner, or Sunday brunch.  And, if there’s just too much for you to see in one day, you can also find overnight accommodations at The Roycroft Inn. 

Not only are these great road trips for people who have an affinity for unique architecture, but they’re also great for history buffs.  Clicking on a few of the links I’ve provided (and clicking around within those websites) will lead you to an abundance of information regarding the history of the Wright buildings I’ve mentioned, as well as historical information about the Roycrofters. 

I can’t recommend these trips enough.  Especially around this time of year.  Autumn, my absolute favorite time of year, is upon us.  And what better time to go for a drive to places where trees are abundant?  You can add some leaf-peeping into your excursion.

Special note for my shutterbug friends:  Most of the tours of Wright buildings do not allow indoor photography.  I believe a couple of them may offer special, in-depth (and more expensive) tours where photography is permitted.  However, photography is permitted anywhere outside the buildings and, believe me, there is plenty to photograph outside around these places.