{"id":111072,"date":"2025-08-01T19:43:19","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T19:43:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/111072\/"},"modified":"2025-08-01T19:43:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T19:43:19","slug":"8-frank-lloyd-wright-designed-buildings-within-driving-distance-madison-magazine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/111072\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings within driving distance | MADISON MAGAZINE"},"content":{"rendered":"

Richland Center-born Frank Lloyd Wright has been called one of the greatest architects of all time, and for good reason. Eight of his structures \u2014 including the Guggenheim Museum<\/a> in New York and \u2014 are UNESCO World Heritage sites, and more than 40 are scattered throughout Wisconsin. These eight examples of his work make for perfect day trips from Madison.<\/p>\n

A.D. German Warehouse<\/a>Richland Center (about 1.5-hour drive)<\/p>\n

It\u2019s only fitting that the first entry on this list should be located in the town where Frank Lloyd Wright was born. The four-story A.D. German Warehouse was constructed from 1917 to 1921, and it\u2019s the only Wright-designed commercial building that remains from that time period. Tours offered every Sunday from May 4 to October 5. 300 S. Church St., Richland Center<\/p>\n

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The A.D. German Warehouse.<\/p>\n

Photo courtesy of Andrew Pielage. <\/p>\n

Wyoming Valley School<\/a>Spring Green (1-hour drive)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Frank Lloyd Wright donated the Wyoming Valley School to the Wyoming School District in honor of his mother, who was a kindergarten teacher, in 1957. The one-story building, now a nonprofit cultural center, is characterized by its elongated hexagonal shape and soaring ceilings criss-crossed by wooden beams.\u00a0Private and group tours available any time of day or year with advanced notice. 6306 WI-23 Trunk, Spring Green<\/p>\n

Taliesin<\/a>Spring Green (1-hour drive)<\/p>\n

Frank Lloyd Wright built Taliesin, which means \u201cshining brow\u201d in Welsh, into the brow \u2014 or the top crest \u2014 of a hill. Here, in the heart of Wisconsin\u2019s Driftless region, was where Wright spent nearly 50 years of his life. The 37,000-square-foot structure is a model of Wright\u2019s organic architecture style, seamlessly integrated into its surrounding natural environment. Explore Taliesin\u2019s 800-acre property and find buildings that span Wright’s entire career, from the octagonal Romeo and Juliet Windmill to the asymmetrical Midway Barn. Tours offered daily from May 1 to Oct. 31 and\u00a0on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in November and April. 5481 County Rd.\u00a0C, Spring Green<\/p>\n

\"Taliesin\"<\/p>\n

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Taliesin.<\/p>\n

Photo courtesy of Dan Eggert Photography and Taliesin Preservation. <\/p>\n

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church<\/a>Wauwatosa (1.5-hour drive)<\/p>\n

Milwaukee County is home to Wisconsin\u2019s largest Greek community, and this blue-domed church looks straight out of Santorini. Designed 1956 and completed in 1961, after Wright\u2019s death, the church is still in use. Tours available upon prior request; 9400 W. Congress St., Wauwatosa<\/p>\n

Still Bend<\/a>Two Rivers (about 2.5-hour drive)<\/p>\n

Wright drew up the plans for Still Bend when LIFE Magazine commissioned him to design a \u201cDream House\u201d for a typical American family. The residence, completed in 1940, embodies principles of what Wright called Usonian architecture: efficiency, harmony with nature and affordability. It is one of the few Frank Lloyd Wright-designed residences that\u2019s available to rent for overnight stays. One-hour tours available for reservation; 3425 Adams St., Two Rivers<\/p>\n

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Still Bend.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Photo courtesy of Still Bend. <\/p>\n

Seth Peterson Cottage<\/a>Reedsburg (1-hour drive)<\/p>\n

This 880-square-foot 1958 cottage is small, compared to sprawling estates like Taliesin and Still Bend. Still, it’s no less beautiful. Its floor-to-ceiling windows soak the cottage\u2019s interior in natural light and grant visitors incredible views of the wooded shoreline of Mirror Lake. If touring the charming one-bedroom chalet isn\u2019t enough, the cottage is available to rent overnight. Open for tours the second Sunday of each month from 1-4 p.m., no reservations required. E9982 Fern Dell Road, Reedsburg<\/p>\n

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The Seth Peterson Cottage.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Photo courtesy of Kit Hogan.<\/p>\n

SC Johnson Administration Building<\/a>Racine (about 2-hour drive)<\/p>\n

Hailed as futuristic upon its 1939 completion, the SC Johnson Administration Building stands out for its one-half acre Great Workroom. It is now the only Wright-designed corporate headquarters still in use. Free tours available for reservation. 1525 Howe St., Racine<\/p>\n

Wingspread<\/a>Wind Point (1.75-hour drive)<\/p>\n

This Prairie-style residence, built in 1938 and 1939 for the president of SC Johnson, is defined by its four massive wings that protrude out from the structure\u2019s central living space. Today, Wingspread is a retreat and executive conference center operated by The Johnson Foundation.<\/a> Tours available by reservation only; 33 E. 4 Mile Rd., Wind Point<\/p>\n

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Wingspread from above.<\/p>\n

Photo courtesy of The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread.<\/p>\n

Staying in town? Madison, where the architect attended college, has some Wright-designed buildings within city limits, too.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Wright drew up the original plans for the exterior of\u00a0Monona Terrace<\/a> in 1938, but construction didn’t begin until 1995, nearly 30 years after his death. Note Wright\u2019s implementation of curved and rounded design elements, reminiscent of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church and the Guggenheim Museum. 1 John Nolen Drive<\/p>\n

The First Unitarian Society Meeting House<\/a>, built in 1951, is still a functioning church where Wright himself was once a member. It\u2019s unique for its triangular shape and towering wall of glass windows. 900 University Bay Drive<\/p>\n

One mile south of the First Unitarian Society Meeting House is the Herbert and Katherine Jacobs House<\/a>, built in 1937 and widely considered to be one of Wright\u2019s first Usonian structures. It\u2019s a private residence, but the house is easy to view from the outside. 441 Toepfer Ave.<\/p>\n

Elsa Englebert is an editorial intern for Madison Magazine.<\/p>\n

\u200bCOPYRIGHT 2025 BY CHANNEL 3000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.<\/p>\n


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