If you’re a Frank Lloyd Wright fan, you’re going to love Chicago. We’re a treasure trove of Wright buildings and Prairie-school gems, with nearby Oak Park holding the largest collection of Wright-designed structures in the world.
While some are private residences, many others roll out the welcome mat for visitors — one even welcomes you to stay overnight. And two are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a global distinction given to locations with significant cultural and historic value.
Open the door onto Frank Lloyd Wright history — and make yourself right at home.
Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio
Living life the Wright way is what it’s all about at the architect’s 1889 home and studio. The Wright Home & Studio is the birthplace of the Prairie School of architecture and the first project Wright enjoyed complete artistic control over. From this studio, Wright designed and built roughly a quarter of his life’s work. You can take 60-minute guided tours year round with the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust. 951 Chicago Ave., Oak Park, IL
Unity Temple
Did you know Wright designed a house of worship right in Oak Park? Located only three blocks from the Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio, Unity Temple is Wright’s only surviving Prairie-style public building. Not only that, but it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019. Its exterior is composed of exposed poured concrete, a first of its kind for a public building (concrete was usually reserved for factories and warehouses). Take a 45 – 60-minute guided tour of this “little jewel box,” as Wright called it, or tour this beautiful space at your own pace. 875 Lake St., Oak Park, IL
Robie House
Robie House in Hyde Park is the Chicago area’s second UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Not only did Wright describe it as “a cornerstone of modern architecture,” but the American Institute of Architects also named it one of the 10 most significant structures of the 20th century. Inspired by the Midwestern prairie, you can explore this history-making home during a 50-minute Frank Lloyd Wright Trust guided tour. 5757 S. Woodlawn Ave., Hyde Park
The Rookery
The Loop is jam-packed with historic architecture, and The Rookery is definitely one not to miss. The building was designed by Burnham and Root in 1888, but in 1905, Frank Lloyd Wright was called in to redesign the light court and lobby. Today, its ornate ironwork and conservatory-like ceiling make it one of the city’s most photographed interiors. Take the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust’s 30-minute tour and get snap happy. 209 S. LaSalle St., Loop
Emil Bach House
If staying overnight in a Frank Lloyd Wright home is on your bucket list of things to do, then you’re going to be pretty excited about the lakefront Emil Bach House. The home departs from Wright’s Prairie style, drawing on European and Japanese influences — there’s even a Japanese Tea House. Take a 45-minute guided tour with the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust, or contact the Emil Bach House to book your stay. Insider tip: The house is also available for private events. 7415 N. Sheridan Rd., Rogers Park
Charnley-Persky House Museum
Get a double dose of architectural history at the Charnley-Persky House Museum, a home designed by legendary Louis Sullivan, with input from Frank Lloyd Wright, who was his junior draftsman at the time. While you’ll clearly see Sullivan’s love for geometric and abstract forms, Wright’s touch is undeniable. Today, this Gold Coast building is the headquarters of the Society of Architectural Historians, which gives guided tours. 1365 N. Astor St., Gold Coast
Frank Lloyd Wright tours around Chicago
Chicago Architecture Center: Frank Lloyd Wright in Oak Park
Join the Chicago Architecture Center for a one-hour exteriors tour of nearly a dozen Frank Lloyd Wright homes in Oak Park. The tour covers both Prairie-style and Victorian buildings. Book your tour.
Frank Lloyd Wright Trust: Wright Around Chicago
One of the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust’s many tours takes you on a day-long guided bus ride to the area’s FLW hotspots. Starting and ending at The Rookery in downtown Chicago, you’ll travel all the way to the Robie House in Hyde Park, as well as the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District in Oak Park. Other Frank Lloyd Wright Trust tours include Pedal Oak Park, a guided bicycle tour; Wright Around Oak Park, a 3-hour expert-led tour; and Wright in the Region day trips, which give you exclusive access to Wright’s most celebrated landmarks in Illinois and Wisconsin. Book your tour.
Frank Lloyd Wright Trail
Tour 13 of Wright’s architectural gems at your own pace on the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail. This self-guided itinerary takes you all the way from Chicago and Oak Park to destinations throughout Illinois, including Kankakee, Springfield, Dwight, Hampshire, Rockford, Belvidere, and Geneva. Plan your tour.
