Posted by Kara on Thursday, Jul 23, 2015
Recently I celebrated a birthday that ended in a ZERO and my husband gave me a "day away." I chose a day in Oak Park, Illinois touring the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio followed by a walking tour of his neighborhood.
I really enjoy historical fiction novels based on the lives of real people. A few years ago the book Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland inspired a Spring Break trip to New York City to see Tiffany Glass. After reading Nancy Horan's Loving Frank and T.C. Boyle's The Women, I've wanted to visit the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park as well as Taliesin in Spring Green, WI.
The tour in Oak Park was wonderful. The volunteer guide was very knowledgeable and I learned a lot about Wright's architecture, style and philosophy. The tour was light on personal details but that was OK. Books can fill in the details there. It was amazing to see Wright's experimentation through the many homes we walked by in the neighborhood and the evolution of his style.
If you are looking for a getaway, I'd recommend reading the two historical fiction novels about Frank Lloyd Wright and then heading to Oak Park for a day.
If you are looking for more adventures in Oak Park, the Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Home and Museum is just a couple blocks from the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio. We didn't get a chance to tour the Hemingway Museum, but if you are interested, you might consider reading The Paris Wife by Paula McLain before you go. Enjoy :)
About the Author
Kara was the Community and Access Services Coordinator. She retired in June 2020.
Add new comment