Guide to Oak Park's Frank Lloyd Wright and Prairie School Historic District

9780226613253

0226613259

The Frank Lloyd Wright and Prairie School Historic District in suburban Oak Park, Illinois is home to a truly remarkable collection of late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-century residential architecture. Within this seventy-eight block district lies the world's greatest concentration of residences designed by Prairie School architects. It includes twenty-six Frank Lloyd Wright buildings, as well as more than sixty buildings designed by members of the Prairie School, all of which are documented in this new Guide. Internationally famous as the birthplace of the Prairie style, Oak Park is less well-known for other historically significant types of well-preserved architecture, ranging from the simple farm houses of its early settlers to the grand estates of Chicago's industrial giants. In addition to their architectural merit, these structures provide an important context for understanding and appreciating the work of the Prairie School. The district as a whole encapsulates the major trends in residential American architecture of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. This guide to Oak Park's Frank Lloyd Wright and Prairie School Historic District includes five walking tours of this architecturally fascinating area. It features one hundred eighteen structures, an illustrated guide to architectural styles, architects' biographies, and detailed maps. With well over a hundred splendid black and white photographs, this elegantly produced guide is an indispensable reference for tourists, students, and aficionados world-wide. A Guide to Oak Park's Frank Lloyd Wright and Prairie School Historic District was produced by the Oak Park Historic Preservation Committee.