Chicago and Forest Avenues: Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio (1889)

Wright's used his home and studio as a sort of living sandbox. He kept expanding the house to meet the needs of his growing family and business while playing with new ideas and designs.

In 1889 Wright built the home with a $5,000 loan from his employer and mentor, Louis Sullivan. The Studio was built later in 1895 after Wright left Sullivan's employ to establish his own practice.

Wright lived and worked here until 1909 when he left his wife and family after falling in love with the wife of a client, Mamah Borthwich Cheney. The home and studio remained with Wright's first wife Catherine ("Kitty") who over time split up the space to provide the family with rental income.

Over the years the property fell into disrepair and it wasn't until 1972 that interest in it was renewed and in 1974 a 13 year rennovation to preserve it to it's 1909 status was undertaken. In 1976 it was named a National Historic Landmark.

For more detailed information go here.

For tickets to view the interior (highly recommended!) go here.