Yesterday we took a tour of the Madison visiting the many buildings built by Frank Lloyd Wright and his students around town. About a month ago I was renewing my library card and came across Frank Lloyd Wright and the Prairie School in Wisconsin- An Architectural Touring Guide by Kristin Visser. Knowing Mark’s passion for Wright’s buildings, I picked it up and we were amazed to find so many of Wright’s buildings in Madison- hence today’s trip. We started with the Herbert Jacobs House I on 441 Toepfer Street in a very clever L design and then circled down to Spring Trail Park on 3700 blk. Nakoma Road to visit the ducks and a unique spring.
Next we hit the Cornelius Larson House on 1006 Grant Street and swung by the Monona Terrace which was unfortunately closed. Next we saw the George Lougee House on 620 S. Ingersoll Street and it’s fancy neighboring houses next to Lake Monona. Then we swung up to Lincoln School on 720 E. Gorham and its neighbor the William Collins House on 704 E. Gorham St. Driving back across campus we saw the Science Hall on 550 N. park St and circled the fancy part of town for Eugene Gilmore House on 120 Ely Pl., Edward Elliott House on 137 N. Prospect Ave and Harold Bradley House I on 106 N. Prospect Avenue.
Revisiting the Unitarian Meeting House we headed up to the Harold Bradley House II on 2900 Oxford Road and them John Pew House- an interestingly turned house so 2 sides face the Lake Mendota view. We wrapped up our excursion with the Walter Rudin House on 110 Marinette Tr., the Eugene Van Tamelen House on 5817 Anchorage Road and lastly with the impressive Herbert Jacobs House II on 3995 Shawn Tr. in Middleton- I think my favorite with the use of a hill for insulation and indoor/outdoor ponds. A fascinating tour of Prairie homes right in our back yard!
