Wednesday, April 6 – Rain, Rain, Go-Away, but we toured anyway! Can't let rain showers stop us. With rain predicted to continue all day here in Springfield, IL, we headed out to do some sightseeing hoping to be indoors most of the day.
We started the day at the Dana-Thomas House State Historic Site.
Owned by the State of Illinois, this home is the best preserved and most complete of Frank Lloyd Wright's early “Prairie” houses. The structure has changed little since its construction in 1902-04 at a cost of $60,000.
The long row of windows form the conservatory. 
The garden was beautiful. This is the only photo we were permitted to take.
The Dana-Thomas House is one of the largest and most elaborate residences designed by Frank Lloyd Wright during his 70 year-long career. Susan Lawrence Dana lived in the house until 1944 when it was sold with most of the contents to Charles Thomas. He used the home for 37 years as executive offices for his publishing firm. The house was then sold to the state of Illinois in 1981 and was totally restored to its original condition.
The Carriage house behind the wall. 
There is so much detail on the outside.
Two hundred original light fixtures and skylights illuminate the interior. Original sculptures in terra cotta by Richard W. Bock ornament the vestibule and reception hall, and the only surviving, original George Niedecken mural in any Wright house graces the four dining room walls. No photos were permitted inside the house…darn. It is spectacular! Marsha tried to find photos of the rooms online to share but could only find a few.
The front entrance.
The home, the 72nd building designed by Wright, contains more than 100 pieces of original Wright-designed furniture still in place along with 250 art glass doors, windows, and light panels.
Front door entrance.
Wright’s first “blank check” commission, the home has 35 rooms in the 12,000 square feet of living space which includes 3 main levels and 16 varying levels in all.
The fountain.
One of the sitting rooms.
The tour is a guided through the entire 12,000+ square foot home and gardens. The tour is free, but a donations of $10 per adult is recommended. The tour takes about 60 minutes. Our tour guide was excellent throwing in lots of fun facts as we walked the interior. There is also a movie about Frank Lloyd Wright, and the history of the house. This was a wonderful tour. One we would highly recommend.
Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y’all back real soon. Have a great day!
