Johnny N.

I was wandering aimlessly through Chicago when I stumbled upon the house Frank Lloyd Wright grew up in along with one of his first workspaces. It is now a museum open to the public. This is a controversial take, but the Fountainhead is my favorite book of all time and Frank Lloyd Wright was a major inspiration for the novel, so I had to pop in. I was SO excited. Sometimes I feel like the universe just throws you treats when you're living right. I entered and realized you could only see the home and workspace if you booked a guided tour. When I inquired about a tour, they said they had no spots left for the day. It hurt, hurt BAD. I tucked my tail between my legs and scoured the gift shop for a little trinket. As I was trinket shopping, there were 2 girls trying to get in one of the tours for the day. The attendant told them what they told me, but they were not taking no for an answer. "My friend came from Serbia just to see this... is there any way she can go? Please, I'll just wait. PLEASE. Is there anything you can do?" After going back and forth, the girl begging and pleading for minutes, the attendant said "Fine... we will add 1 spot to the tour for her but it starts right now." A jolt of pure RAGE shot through my bloodstream. I was about to lose it. I was seeing red. What a slap in the face to me who had just been rejected. As I turned around to unleash my blind fury, I had to check myself. One half of my brain said to the other half "Honestly Johnny, she wanted it more than you did. You know she did. If you wanted it that bad, you would have pressed the attendant like she did. You just saw first hand that a closed mouth does not get fed." Damn. So true. This was just proof again that you gotta go after what you want in life. Pure passion and grit will win out more often than not. I needed this lesson. RIP FRANK! IG @johnny.novo Tiktok @jnov__ Substack @johnnynovo

Bernie K.

If you're in Chicago and you love architecture - I would recommend visiting this museum. We didn't have time for a tour but will most definitely return;however, we took a walk to the houses nearby and took pictures of them for memories. Beautiful and peaceful lush gardens, you will find it's a lovely place to visit. I will return for more photos and memories! The gift shop is full of great items too!

Stella A.

Maureen was a wonderful guide. We went on a cold day and got a private tour as no one else was there. Love the house and studio tour. I lathered a lot. Maureen pointed out lots of details you would have missed if walking around on your own. Gift shop has many great selections. I purchased something for my brother in law who is an architect. Highly recommend a visit while you're in Chicago.

Wendy G.

We went on a the "Wright Around Oak Park" tour sponsored by the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust and it didn't disappoint! The tour began at the the Wright home and designed by FLW at the beginning of his prairie stage and continued with a tour of the studio he buoyed as his practice grew. Our tour guide, Felix, was very knowledgeable and has led these tours for 10 years. What a treat! We weee able to go into areas of the biome not available to other tours, so I recommend purchasing your tickets through the trust for that reason alone. After this first portion of the tour (about an hour) we took a short break and were given bottled water and some snacks before we headed out for a walking tour of the neighborhood. Felix pointed out homes that had been built or remodeled by FLE as well as information about the history of not only the FLW homes but some others in the area as well. The walking Portia of the tour was a little over an hour and not strenuous at all, just some uneven pavement and there. We ended back at the home and studio location and went right to the gift shop to put our 25% off of $75 purchase coupon we received for purchasing the tour tickets. FYI the tickets were $75/person and worth it. I recommend this as a great introduction to FLW and/or the architectural prairie style. Props for Felix for his knowledge and enthusiasm!

Angela L.

My boyfriend and I were visiting my family this past weekend and we decided to do the Frank Lloyd Wright self guided outdoor tour and the indoor guided tour of one of the houses. He is a big architecture nerd and I have always been a fan of FLW, so we both had a blast and highly recommend it!

Vlad V.

I have been a huge fan of Frank Lloyd Wright for many years. Arguably the greatest American architect of all time, FLW has properties that he has designed spread out all throughout the US. The cool thing about Chicago? It has the largest grouping of FLW homes in the country. Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio is located in Oak Park (a suburb of Chicago). I bought my tickets online a few days in advance and made my way on a weekday afternoon. Located in a residential neighborhood, I parked for free on a side street. I started off with a tour of FLW's Home and Studio. He lived here for quite a few years back when he was alive. Our tour guide did a great job as we toured both the exterior and interior of the home. He shared many nuggets about FLW, his career, and his family. As well as interesting facts about each room in terms of the architectural techniques used. The tour takes about an hour. After you're done with your tour, you'll arrive at the gift shop. They have some cool gifts so it's worth checking out. I purchased a FLW bookmark. From there, I highly recommend paying for the self-guided audio tour. You're given a headset and a paper to do a walking tour of your own. During your walking tour, which is close to FLW Home and Studio, you'll see eight or so homes that FLW designed in the neighborhood. You'll learn about each home through the audio tour and the piece of paper that is provided to you. It's a great addition to the experience and shouldn't be missed! Frank Lloyd Wright was known for incorporating nature and sunlight into his designs as well as the use of symmetry. It's a unique approach to architecture and he has made such an impact in the industry. While not in Chicago proper, it was a doable drive from the bed and breakfast I stayed at. It ended up being one of my favorite experiences during my Chicago trip.

Jen R.

Visiting the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio is practically a rite of passage for anyone who grew up in Oak Park. I remember taking the tour during grade school, just like everyone else. I grew up in Oak Park, not far from the studio. You can visit the studio and take a tour, but it's recommended to purchase tickets online in advance. There are different options, including a home tour and an outdoor guided tour, with prices varying depending on what you choose. It's best to check the website for details. We had a fantastic tour guide who took us through all the rooms, and it brought back so many memories of that visit from years ago. This time, I brought my husband, who had never been before. Frank Lloyd Wright had a storied career and was quite a character. Beyond his home and studio here, there's the Robie House near the University of Chicago and numerous other homes he or his staff designed in Oak Park and beyond. Everything in his homes had a specific purpose, and while some might consider the designs plain, they are as modern today as they were back then. Many of the pieces inside are original or have been reclaimed by the society from family members. The foundation also undertook significant renovations when they acquired the property. After the tour, be sure to check out the gift shop, which has a great selection of items like mugs, postcards, ornaments, and more. If you're in the area, visiting the studio is a must. Take some time to explore the surrounding blocks, too, as you'll find other homes Wright designed. Just keep in mind that parking is on the street, as it's a residential neighborhood.

Cristina W.

The tour was very informative. The tour guide was great she was very knowledgeable. His house are beautiful. Took a walk to see them all. A must when visiting Chicago if you are an art lover. Didnt have a chance to take pics of the houses but worth a look.

Hunter S.

Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio. Located in Oak Park, near other FLW projects and the Ernest Hemingway birth home, Tours are 20-30 dollars, depending on whether or not you take the outdoor audio tour. The interior tour is 60 minutes (ours ran longer) and the outdoor audio tour is about 45 minutes. Wright designed this home when he was young and just starting a family, early in his career, when he was still an apprentice. The neat thing about this is that you see how he evolved as an architect. Wright changed this home many times, from adding walls, changing windows, adding different veneers to wall surfaces. You also learn some about Wright's mildly scandalous personal life--leaving his wife, running off to Paris, lovers and wives, spats with associates. You also see FLW the father and the creative. You really get to know the foundation of FLW and get to see some great architecture. Lots of photo ops. The children's playroom is amazing! They have a great gift shop and the volunteer docent was great. Again, you can make a history day out of this area of Oak Park.

Joshua W.

I wasn't planning on taking this to her about my parents are in town and they took us. I'm an engineer, not an architecture guy, but the tour was very interesting. I certainly learned more about Frank Lloyd Wright than I ever thought I would know. All of the docents were very helpful and knowledgeable. Our tour guide was engaged and genuinely wanted us to learn, which is not surprising because they were a volunteer. It was a lot of standing so if that's hard on you, you might have some trouble.