Absolutely loved it here! Not only is Falling Water beautiful on the outside surrounded by the forest and waterfall, but the inside is a perfect complement of that natural beauty. I didn't expect to truly enjoy an hour long tour of the home, but our guide provided us with great historical and architecture facts that kept us interested the whole way through. Also, I didnt realize just how big the home is and all the rooms there are to explore. After the tour, I highly recommend taking the short hike around the grounds to enjoy the scenes. Especially in the fall, the colors were stunning. I'm looking forward to going back during the winter to see the home with a fresh coat of snow on it. read more

Fallingwater - Falling Water - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mill Run, Pennsylvania

A beautiful place to visit on a road trip! I highly recommend. You will be impressed very much. It's in a beautiful part of the state. If you are out antiquing or riding the bike on a road trip. A must see spot! read more

This is really inspirational for anyone who cares about design and the quality of dwellings and objects used in daily life. Wright was a genius, have no doubt about that. Please look at the thorough and excellent reviews posted by others. I will not repeat most of what has already been written. But reservations are required - book well in advance. Most disappointing for me was the ban on photography inside the house and from the balconies for the most part, as well. For this, and the donation pitch at the end, I had to deduct a star. Over $30 each for a tour seems pretty high and I did not expect to be asked for even more money. Tastefully done, don't get me wrong, but asking for my money is asking for my money. But make no mistake, this is a lifetime experience. It is a house crammed full of thoughtful design, from the overall plan and how the house fits into the landscape to the interior spaces and furnishings, and will inspire all who visit to be more considerate of design elements around us. Those with mobility issues will be challenged on the tour. There are a lot of steps. There is van service from the welcome center down to the house if you ask. But don't miss the chance to walk down and around the house if you are able, to enjoy how the house fits into the landscape. Breathtaking. The gift shop is very good and cafeteria is decent. No wifi or cell service there. Despite the small negatives, an awesome experience worth the drive through the beautiful Pennsylvania countryside. Visiting Fallingwater is on the Smithsonian's list of things to do before you die for a reason! Do it! read more

Absolutely beautiful home with stunning architecture. Everyone pretty much covered all the pros and cons of the tour before me, and my one complaint is that since you're already paying so much for a ticket, it would be nice to take pictures instead of having to pay a ridiculous amount for a tour option that allows pictures. The grounds are well maintained, and I love that the house has so many old art pieces that the family had collected over the years. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and nice. Though it's pretty far outside of Pittsburgh, if you have an opportunity to drive up and visit the house, you should definitely add it to your bucket list. I mean, how many times will you get to visit a house that is on top of a waterfall? read more

Fallingwater - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mill Run, Pennsylvania

For those architecture lover out there, Fallingwater is a must visit place if you happened to be within 2-3 hours of this place. Even as a person who does not know much about Architecture like me, I still enjoyed seeing and truly enjoyed walking through one of the most famous/ iconic 20th century buildings that I've seen in many books/postcards in real life. Our tour starts from admiring the beauty of the building from outside..then we got to slowly go inside each home to admire all the details that this building which was once a vacation home has to offer. All the little details like curves or how the window frames were constructed really impressed me....and it's like..all the furniture pieces throughout this home...were intentionally made..and well thought out to match the building, too...it's definitely one of the building that anyone...art lover or not (bonus if you are one!)..should go see! P.S. Don't skimp and do just the walking outside tour by yourself after spending time to drive here. Spend a little bit more and sign up for a 60-90 min tour so you at least get to learn the history and admire the impressive architectural details of this building! And...yes...do plan on booking for the tour ahead of time...they tend to get full and if they do...you won't be able to get into the area! read more

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This was a bucket list item for me! I was glad I went. I did not get the typical photo that everyone gets with the waterfalls and that's okay. Everyone takes the same photo. Taliesin West has my heart but this was my favorite second place. If you are an FLW nerd you have to see it! We were allowed to take photos of the first floor. The second floor is bedrooms and the third has a bedroom area and media room. I opted not to go to the third floor and beyond. The guide who was great said there were 100 steps. Suffering from a knee injury I opted out after the second floor. The flagstone steps are a bit treacherous from constant wear so if you have bad balance, vertigo or a hard time with steps these are going to be a challenge. Getting to the house is a fairly easy downhill walk about a quarter mile. It is gravel. I always find walking on gravel to be a little more difficult than other surfaces. There was a shuttle I could request for the way back (what goes down must come up) and that was a godsend. I was leery about the trek back up. It's not steep and there are switchbacks but it's gravel and uphill regardless. It was a terrific experience and I really enjoyed the tour guide! He was great. He gave us enough time to enjoy the different areas, showed us special features but didn't linger too long in one area. He kept it moving. We were provided with ear pieces and radios to hear him along the walk down to the house. The house is beautiful, obviously. It was worth every penny. read more

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Wonderful experience. Beautiful grounds to explore, cafe and gift shop were very nice and the staff was professional and friendly. Our tour guide Brett was exceptional! He was very engaging and drew the guest into conversation about what we were seeing and experiencing. read more

Fallingwater - The great room - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mill Run, Pennsylvania

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After a family wedding in Boston-Cambridge, my wife and I took a "decompression trip" on our way back home to Asheville, NC. We decided to visit two of the most famous houses of the 20th century, Philip Johnson's Modernist Glass House in New Canaan, Conn., and Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater. (We also ended up visiting Kentuck Knob, Wright's Usonian house a few miles from Fallingwater.) To put this review in context, I should say that we have visited a number of other Wright buildings, including of course the Guggenheim, Taliesin West in Arizona, the Florida Southern University buildings, Wright's studio and home in Oak Park, Ill., plus I have seen a number of Wright houses in Buffalo and elsewhere. I'm not an expert on architecture, but I have read several biographies and other books on Wright. Anyway, rather than trying to critique what is arguably the most famous house of the 20th century, I'm sharing what surprised me about the house, grounds and the tour: * First, and this is totally stupid of me because I've seen dozens of photos of Fallingwater and read much about its construction, on first approaching the house on the tour I was surprised that the house and the decks are of reinforced concrete, painted an earthy tan color. For some reason I had it in my mind that the decks were faced with wooden boards and stone. * I was surprised by the beauty of the natural setting. Again, I shouldn't have been, but the beauty of the cascading falls, the river and the rhododendron and laurel around the house exceeded my expectations. * I was surprised by the popularity of the house. Last year more than 186,000 people toured it, on busy days more than a thousand people come to see it, and fmore than five million have toured since it was acquired by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy in 1963. The tours are run very smoothly, and the visitor center is nicely designed, but it is still a busy place. * I was pleasantly surprised by how much of the original furnishings remain with the house. The Kaufmann family -- a prosperous Pittsburgh family that operated a famed department store -- that donated the house to the Conservancy also donated all of the furnishings, both those designed by Wright and those selected by the family, down to the silverware and two Diego Rivera paintings. Unfortunately, several Frida Kahlo paintings were sold, I believe by a Kaufmann family member before the donation. * Knowing Wright's penchant for compressed space and low ceilings, I was surprised by the size and amount of public space at Fallingwater. This is especially noticeable on the main level, where the living room and decks are large and could easily handle the parties that the Kaufmanns entertained in the 1940s and 50s at their weekend retreat. The living room fireplace is huge, and unlike at Kentuck Knob where fireplaces had to be used sparingly due to the use of quarried stone that could not stand up to heat, the Fallingwater fireplace interiors have fire brick facings, so the fireplaces were used frequently. * I was surprised that the tour guides accept, and even quietly solicit, tips. At neither Kentucky Knob nor the Glass House did the guides expect tips, and if memory serves that was the case also at the other Wright sites we've visited. In general, although it's done tastefully, there is a bit of commercialization at the site -- from the short film at the end that asks for donations to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy to an $18 Cuban sandwich in the café. On the other hand, we paid only $30 each for the tour, a better value than the tours at either Kentucky Knob ($25) or $52 for the Glass House. And of course the Conservancy does much good work, including having protected more than 255,000 acres of natural land in Pennsylvania. Our tour guide also was very good, with an informative yet unscripted presentation. * I was a little surprised about the walk back to the visitor center after touring the house. You can either take the long route, of nearly a mile with up to an 8-degree inclines, or a shorter route via a series of terraced steps, some fairly steep. For those with mobility challenges, there is the option of riding back in a vehicle. All in all, however, with more than 100 steps in the house and quite a bit of walking to and from the house, the tour is at least a mild work-out. * Finally, I was surprised that the well-known leaks that have plagued the structure since it was built were not, as I had thought, around glass but rather through the reinforced concrete decks and roofs. Of course, it is well known that Wright had many disagreements with the Kaufmanns and the contractors over the design and engineering of the house. Much work has had to be done to reinforce the sagging decks and to counter the mold problem due to the site over the river. To sum up, it was a privilege to see and tour this master work of organic architecture. read more

Fallingwater - Cantilevered deck at Fallingwater - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mill Run, Pennsylvania

Being from Wisconsin like Frank Lloyd Wright, we were practically born and raised to be FLW fans. However, my husband and I totally geeked out once we got to Fallingwater. Unbelievable, beautiful, mind boggling, serene and awesome are just a few adjectives to describe this masterpiece. Besides Fallingwater itself, we were also impressed by the visitor center, museum store, cafe and gallery. Our guide was informative, without being annoying, and they even provided all of us with umbrellas during a fairly lengthy rainstorm. As adults, we knew we were going to be in for a treat, but I must say that our 16 year old and 11 year old were quite impressed as well. 60 minutes was enough time to get a good tour, but short enough to keep the attention span of younger attendees too. Prior to going, I did a little research and discovered that Fallingwater is on Smithsonian Magazine's Life List of 43 Places to see before you die. It was also recently named a World Heritage Site. If you're on the fence, go! You won't regret it. read more

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Absolutely beautiful and fascinating place. Spent a couple of hours walking around the house, did a short hike, explored the gardens, woods. Also did a guided tour which cost us $30.00 pp. During COVID times the tour is only of the exterior of the house, cannot go inside. 1 group consists of only 1 party, so you don't mix with other people, minimum in a group is 2. Masks have to be worn all the time on the property. They have picnic tables also which one can use. Outside food is not allowed. Café was open but only for takeout and one can use the tables in the garden then. It was interesting to learn history and facts about the house and the family living there. The guide pointed out many picture spots. Lovely experience overall. Would love to go back in a different season too. read more

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Fallingwater is a must-visit attraction, especially if you are in the area for Ohiopyle State Park, or Pittsburgh. It is worth the trip. The guided tour, which is the only possible way to enter the house, is fantastic. It is such a neat place. They have a really nice gift shop, too! read more

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You don't even need to be a big architecture fan to enjoy Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece Fallingwater. Even if you are just a fan of great design it's well worth the trip. There was so much thought put into the design of everything on the property, from the windows to the room layout to even the design of the chairs. After going on the tour, you realize how much of an influence Wright's design philosophy had on American architecture and continues to this day. I visited Fallingwater while visiting a friend in Pittsburgh. It was about an hour drive from the city, mostly highway. Due to the limited number of tours each day, I recommend booking a tour weeks in advance. I did the extended tour that gives you permission to take more photographs. It was definitely worth it. You got to go into additional rooms the regular tour doesn't go. The building and the surrounding property is a photographer's dream. read more

This is a total must visit for any architecture buff or any lover of the sublime work of the legendary Frank Lloyd Wright. After I once visited his other and more subtler architectural gem called Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona, I decided to make it my mission to get out to no-wheres-ville in Pennsylvania to visit this architectural gem. And boy I was not disappointed! I just warn you it is very far out of the way. In fact the closest city, Pittsburgh, is over ninety minutes away so you need to get moving if you are going to make it during the best part of the day, which is smack dab in the afternoon. After knowing this is where I wanted to go, I made sure I did some research online because something told me this wasn't going to be one of those times in which I just park, walk up to admissions, and simply pay to get in. I knew there'd be a wait, but luckily it wasn't too long. If you're going this far you need to do due diligence in order to see if they are all booked up and to see if tickets online are cheaper. Which thankfully they were! I found the online process easy and extremely thorough. All I had to do was sign up for an account and then they gave me a confirmation email. Once I realized they had a deal on the Fallingwater website for cheaper admission prices for both tours of the Fallingwater house and the nearby Kentuck Knob house that Wright also designed, I was sold! In a matter of minutes, I was able to sign up for tours at both houses for 12noon and 3:30pm respectively for a discounted price tag of only 47 dollars total. In fact I got to both places early so when I checked in with admissions I was able to get an earlier tour times to both place which I found very convenient. Once you arrive, you check in at the open air admissions desk which is set up in the center spoke of a wooden pentagonal structure with bathrooms, the cafe, the gift shop, and the walkway to the grounds on various sides. As you wait for your turn I advise everyone to use the facilities because there are none on the actual premises which is like half a mile away. They call your group number and send you and others walking down a long pathway to the house where you will meet your tour guide waiting for you at the bridge entrance. And what a gorgeous view you get as your approach the house. Your guide takes you through all levels of the stunning house describing the architecture and its history. Wright designed the house for the wealthy Kaufmann family of Pittsburgh as a summer house. Instead of placing the house alongside the river as the family requested, Wright thought outside of the box and placed it right on top of the river so it could be in tune with nature. That''s why I love Wright's work, he always thought outside of the box when thinking about his projects. His architecture may not be for everyone, perhaps a little too modern or ornate for everyone's taste that represents that era of architecture. But seeing the house combined with it's breathtaking location is all worth it. I'm so glad I went in October where the leaves were turning bright burnt yellows and oranges. I know it's open during the summer (and even in December) but nothing could beat the feeling of the autumnal atmosphere. I wish I could share pictures of the interior of the house and how our tour group enjoyed taking it all in. But alas, it's not allowed even without flash photography. The guides claimed they wanted to maintain the integrity of the place. I bet they just wanted to sell more books in the gift shop. Speaking of which I felt the gift shop was great featuring a ton of great once in a lifetime souvenirs for all of you tchotchke lovers out there. (For which I am a proud member of!) The bottom line here is that Fallingwater is more for just curious lookie loos wondering what this place is all about because it so far off the beaten path that it's only worth the trip if you are truly committed to being dazzled by one of the most unique pieces of architecture out there. This is one of those unique bucket list experiences that you would have to experience for yourself so you can take it in and soak in the atmosphere of where nature and architecture meet. read more

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Once upon my architectural dreams I will have made it to all of Frank Lloyd Wright's homes. This by far has been one of my most favorite ones. This is privately owned and the care reflects it. The grounds are soft, quiet, romantic, and they pull you in like a grasp of an old Cary Grant film. When you enter they have a cafe, a shop, the coolest restrooms, and a locker set up that feels more like a coat check. They have tour tiers for your price range and desire of time/rooms you want to see of the home. You are placed in a group of around 10-20 people and then you tour the house. It. Is. Incredible. They have most of the original furniture and the tour guides are cheeky but informative. They are not obnoxious like a Disney fairgrounds but fun and thoughtful. My group was filled with intellectuals and I was lucky enough to be a part of discussions that I was able to learn more than what my professors and personal studies had touched on. It was so exciting that my creative juices were flowing. You even toured the separate home that Frank's son, John lived in and made his own. There is SO MUCH information and beautiful details to this work. It really is an architectural masterpiece. When it is over you walk the grounds back to the entrance and that's when you come upon the classic view of Fallingwater. The sun changes quickly and each setting makes you fall in love more. They do have golfcarts for handicapped so that they are able to see the views but the home is not accessible imo. There are many stairs, tight hallways, and suddenly short underways, although the first floor might be an exception. *The prices for the handicapped are much cheaper.* read more

Fallingwater - Fallingwater - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mill Run, Pennsylvania

Nature and man. Fallingwater is not just a house but a work of art that takes the intersection of both of these to a new level. And I'm so happy that I can say that I was able to see it for myself, walk its halls, listen to the waterfall, peer down into the water from its balconies. As a fun Memorial Day trip, my boyfriend, his siblings and their significant others and I rented a condo near Fallingwater since it was about halfway between where we all live. My first tip: Reserve your tour tickets in advance. Most of the tours were sold out by the time Memorial Day rolled around. When we arrived we had about 40 minutes to spend in the gift shop before our tour was called. This turned out to be a benefit because this is one awesome gift shop. If you're a Frank Lloyd Wright enthusiast, you'll find everything from FLW mousepads, ties, books, art, bird feeders, T-shirts, jewelry and more. The shop also has a great books section and other fun finds. When our tour number was called, we made our way to the house, which is down a short path from the welcome desk/gazebo. On the bridge leading to this iconic home, we met our tour guide. There's a strict no interior photos policy unless you go on the expensive tour so take a ton of pictures from this bridge as well as the trail that leads to the overlook that faces the house. We began in the living room, marveled over The Hatch (my favorite feature), walked the balconies, took in the hearth and then ventured upstairs to see the bedrooms. While this home is truly priceless, it struck me how small the beds were and how minimal the furnishings were, but from what the guide told us, that is a part of FLW's vision. It was also great to see how he brought nature, like original stone, into the home and how it is cantilevered over the waterfall. There is also an adorable small pool near the guest addition, and when we toured a frog was just chilling on the steps. Our guide called him Frog Lloyd Wright. Love it! The only topics I wish our tour guide had talked more about were the celebs who have walked its halls (Bradjelina! Eep!) and the art. At the end of the tour, you sit down in an air conditioned room -- the only A/C on the tour; the hand fans they lend you on the tour are also priceless! -- to learn more about the conservancy that maintains the home. And the lady who talked to us about the conservancy mentioned how the home contained works by Picasso and Rivera. What the what!?! Our main tour guide never mentioned that. I know that one of the longer tours includes more about the art, but a comment like, "That painting is by Picasso," would have been nice. Fallingwater truly is a bucket list spot. I'm so happy we were able to check this one off! read more

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Great experience. A little pricey but very unique and worth it for at least a one time visit.

I have always been an amateur Architecture buff. Fallingwater has been on my bucket list of places to visit for the longest time. We finally had the opportunity to go. I cannot explain how wonderful this experience was! The walk down to the house is not too far and is beautiful. The guide that met us was wonderful, Steven, he was so knowledgeable about the house, the architecture, the grounds. We felt as if the tour had been personalized to our interests. We did not feel rushed as we were guided through the house, the guesthouse, and into the garage area. Each person on the tour was given time to look around and ask questions. Once the tour is over, you are finally permitted to take pictures outside of the house. It was truly an awe-inspiring experience. Hints: The process of purchasing your tickets online is easy, have a printed copy of your email reservation or your email handy on your phone when you check in at the gate. Give yourself plenty of time to get to the site from wherever you may be coming from...there doesn't seem to be an easy route and cell service is limited, so have a paper map! Please note the information about children under 6, it states everywhere on the website that they aren't permitted in the house...I saw it clearly even though it didn't apply to us! read more

Fallingwater - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mill Run, Pennsylvania

5 for the concept and the great photos online. 4 for reality, as in seeing it in real life, up close. Such is that of life, isn't it? That being said, if you are in the Pittsburgh area, then I definitely recommend taking a one hour drive and going to see Fallingwater. This is a house that was built on top of a waterfall and it is definitely worth seeing. There are inside the house tours, grounds tours, hiking tours, in-depth tours, twilight tours... it's up to you how much you want to spend. We just got the grounds passes, which at the lowest level is still almost ten bucks per person. It allows you to park and walk around the area and take photos. It was enough for us, and allowed us to get right up to the house. The farther away you are, the more impressive it looks, but as you get closer, you can see that it's definitely an old building and some of the paint is starting to chip. I didn't go inside, but from the outside, I still think it's better to have a house overlooking a waterfall, then to be in the waterfall. Waterfalls are free flowing, and this building is not only disrupting it, but also angular. Perhaps that is the beauty of it and I just can't see it. There are also several vantage points for taking photos, and I'd recommend going as early as possible if you don't want people in your photos. Also, while I was there, I was helping a lovely couple take photos, when all of a sudden the guy went down on one knee and proposed. If you're out there, and you read this, just wanted to give you guys a shout out! This made the trip to Fallingwater all the more memorable! read more

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The tour guide lady was sub par. I'm not sure if she is a staff or a volunteer. I believe she needs diversity and inclusion training. I'm of Asian decent and went with a Caucasian friend. The tour guide didn't make any eye contact with me the entire tour even though I was up in the front when she talked to the whole group. She apparently is very uncomfortable around people of color. Coming from California, this is walking back 30 years of time in that regards. Other than that, everything was great, people at the ticket office, museum, store were awesome. I'm sure the bad experience was an isolated case. read more

So impressive in person. The tour of the inside of the house is worth every penny, tour guide was really good. Grounds are stunning. read more

Fallingwater - Fallingwater - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mill Run, Pennsylvania

Excellent tour. Fun, informative. Fantastic staff and tour guides. Would not recommend for children under 7.

Fallingwater offers a few different types of tours. The standard tour apparently doesn't allow photos inside the house, which I didn't like. If I'm going to the effort to get there and take a tour, I'd like the flexibility to photograph whatever I want. They do offer some early-morning in-depth tours that allow photography (with a significant up-charge) as well as some other even higher-end tours that allow it. We opted for the first tour of the day (8:30 a.m.). Also, you definitely need to book in advance; I'm not sure if they even allow walk-up registrations for tours, though you can just stop by to check out the grounds for a lesser charge. We stayed in Uniontown, which is about 35 - 40 minutes away. En route, there were some other hotels a bit closer (one at the crest of the mountain you drive over) but our arrangement was fine for us. We arrived at the site around 7:45 a.m. (they advise arriving 30 minutes prior to the tour time). The gate-house does not open until 8 a.m., so we were in a growing line of cars until then. We parked and walked to the visitors' center. That is an interesting place, architecturally, in its own right. It has a very open tree-house feel (no walls, actually), with ramps that radiate to the gift shop, cafe, restrooms, nature trail, etc. They do have lockers in case you brought things that aren't allowed inside (backpacks, a purse that is too large, etc.). You also cannot bring an umbrella, though they have these available for use on the trip. It was lightly raining off-and-on the morning we visited. Our trip started on time and our guide, Henry, was very good. They lead you down a path, past some flower garden and eventually you see the home through the trees. I really enjoyed the tour, as they spent a fair amount of time in each room and discussed what was unique/interesting about each. I never felt rushed, and time passed quickly. Lighting probably makes a big difference, so touring early in the day may give you a different experience than touring on a sunny afternoon. The interior of the house was somewhat dark when we were there, plus the humidity was really high (given the rain, plus the adjacent stream). My overall impression was that I'm not sure how great it would be to live there (even as a weekend retreat) from a day-to-day standpoint. From a touring perspective, it was fantastic for me. I have no complaint about paying extra for the in-depth tour given the experience. After your tour is over (ours ran until around 10:15 a.m.) you can walk the grounds and explore anywhere outside the house for as long as you like. The classic viewpoint for photos is about 100 yards downstream. When we visited, lighting for photos was problematic; it was difficult to get a shot of people with the house in the background, without compromising one or the other. We ate at the onsite cafe, which I'll review separately. If I visited again, I'd likely just drive the 10 minutes to Ohiopyle and eat there. We also checked out the gift shop, which was very pricey, though we did end up getting a puzzle for $20. If you are a fan of architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright in particular, I would highly recommend this tour. Side note - there is a 2nd FLW house about 20 minutes away that offers tours as well. It is a different setting, but is a nice pairing with this tour. Search for Kentuck Knob. read more

Ever since my parent's told me about their walking tour of Fallingwater, it's been on my bucket list. The home is located about 90 minutes south of Pittsburgh in the rural mountains of Pennsylvania. So it's definitely a journey! I grew up in Northeast Pennsylvania and Fallingwater seemed like an unwieldy trek even from there. And here I am now -- flying all the way from LA to check it out! But is it worth all this effort? Definitely! It falls into that special category of places I've seen that are so epic, that it somehow lives up to the hype. The in-depth tour is the way to go. Not only do you get a smaller group, but you are allowed access to other parts of the house the regular tour doesn't go. Also, you're allowed to take photos inside the house (a major motivator for us!). The day we visited, it was raining off and on, and they even provided umbrellas along the way. Clearly, they have this tour down to a science! While Frank Lloyd Wright is revered as one of history's greatest architects, it wasn't always the case. Around the time Fallingwater was built, many critics considered him to be washed up. The Great Depression hit and the demand for lavish projects went down. Plus, much like the dining scene in LA, his designs weren't the new and trendy thing. And many considered his style to be anachronistic (and yes, a good SAT word!). The history of the home and how it all came together is incredible. It was once a weekend retreat for the Kaufmann family, who owned the successful Kaufmann department stores in downtown Pittsburgh (which is now being converted into apartment lofts). The Kaufmann's were drawn to Wright's unique style of incorporating natural elements and blending in with the surroundings. In fact, the site was originally a camp where the family would go to escape the industrial haze of Pittsburgh. The city was so polluted back then that the street lights were often turned on during the day to see. So the family upgraded their digs -- and what an upgrade they got. Fallingwater has been kept in its original condition -- with just a few changes, including a gorgeous visitors' pavilion. It was such a special place -- and we couldn't believe 2 hours passed. It's not to be missed -- even if it requires a 6 AM wake up time. And trust me, I don't like to wake up early! read more

Great home and site, but would have been much better if a tour allowing visitors to go in had been available. Definitely a must see though. Extremely calm and relaxing too. read more

Finally, after decades of wanting to go, we made it this past year. I was a bit concerned that I'd be disappointed b/c I had wanted to go for so long, how could it possibly meet my expectations? Well, it not only met them it exceeded them! We took advantage of the lovely day and explored the entire property. We had picnic lunches with us which we enjoyed outside, wandered the paths, enjoyed the view of the house from different vantage points, spent most of the day there. Even if you're not a FLW fan, this house is well worth your time and money! Imagine having a waterfall under your living room floor! Although it's necessary to take a guided tour of the house, so you can't linger as long as you might like inside, you are allowed to take photos which is unusual. We also enjoyed the exhibit in the Speyer Gallery (on-site) which showed, thru photos and words, the history of the home as it was being built. Don't know if that's a permanent exhibit or not, but it should be. read more

Well, I mean, if you're anywhere in the area, this is an absolute must! The garden alone is amazing when in season and the house is...well, it's Fallingwater! Do this right. Do not show up expecting to just take a tour on arrival. Make reservations online or by phone at least a couple of weeks ahead or you will regret it. Plan on spending at least a couple of hours or more here. It was honestly even cooler than I expected. read more

Before you eviscerate me for giving this national landmark only 4 stars, understand this - the place gets 5 stars for the quality of the home. I am remarking on the entire experience, and at this time in our lives, we had two small children with us. Yes, the Fallingwater website makes it abundantly clear that they do not allow children under age 5 on the tour. I think that's totally fine - the architectural style of the home makes it somewhat dangerous to have children on the balconies with extremely low railings. What I think is a bit of a negative point is that as times have changed to have more and more people out visiting museums and attractions visit these places with their children, Fallingwater hasn't really moved to accommodate visitors with small children much. Their website says that they have some sort of family room available, but it wasn't readily apparent, and overall, I just think that they could be a little more creative and helpful. That being said, this place is amazing - a truly moving piece of architecture with a very interesting history, both on the Kaufmanns' side and on Wright's side. Worth reading about! read more

Absolutely beautiful place and amazing experience. So happy they opened so we have a few places to visit during COVID. Unfortunately the inside is not open due to COVID. But just walking around this masterpiece of landmark is enough. So happy the staff are being super responsible to keep everyone safe. Will definitely be back again this summer. read more

Fallingwater - Fallingwater - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mill Run, Pennsylvania

I loved this property but felt the tour guide could have done a lot more to draw the guests into the life story of the owners. When I asked if the hosts entertained a lot, the answer was "yes," I later asked Were the artists Diego Rivera and Frieda Kahlo party guests, the answer was "yes". How about while standing in the living room, saying, "The family loved to entertain here and frequent guests were Albert Einstein, artists Rivera and Kahlo," would have made it so much more personal. Guide did an adequate job but I felt it could have been so much more. The house and grounds are a soul-stirring marvel and for anyone who loves architecture and beauty, this is a must see. The tickets sell out very quickly, wise to book ahead and I'd happily go again. Recommend! read more

Fallingwaters is an interesting place to visit! We have wanted to visit for a few years, but distance and time was not on our immediate plans! However, that changed after our 50 anniversary when our oldest daughter and her hubby treated us by bring us to the place and arranging a tour along with breakfast on the way! It takes about three hours driving time alone! Fallingwaters is a unique home in Pennsylvania where it is built on the side of a large hill with a sizeable stream running under part of the home. The home is built where the multi-levels are design for the water flow and multi-decks can oversee the water and be in-tuned with nature! You have to see in person to understand the unique design and cleverness of its conception! The tours vary in cost from about $33.00 per person to personalize $300.00. I suggest the basic $33.00 for your first visit which last about one hour! You are allowed to take pictures only outside but not in the home! You must order your tour tickets in advance see their online web site for all the information! It was raining off-on the day we went! You are not allowed to use your umbrella, but they do furnish them for you! You cannot carry them into the home! We arrive first in a long drive to the parking area! Then a short walk to the visitor center! Their store is loaded with a wide range of items! It is about 1/4 mile to the main home! I suggest using the free shuttle of you cannot walk that far! The home haze over 100 steps! You will get a workout going up/down/up etc. The tour guides are knowledgeable and based on which tour you take as to the degree of details they may provide! The home is not a mansion size as many I have visited, but the unique design is impressive! Many of the rooms were modest in size! The service quarters is in a separate house nearby! We highly recommend you visit Fallingwaters. You will not be disappointed! We enjoy the trip and the tour! We might visit Fallingwaters again if we are with friends or family! read more

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Rights most famous work for good reason it's absolutely beautiful and an amazing feat of engineering. Loved the tour thanks. GREAT VACATION! read more

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Incredibly overwhelming to say the least. I won't go into too many details, as you need to see the houses for yourself. However, as you are driving up to the area where it is located, it appears like your GPS is not taking you to the correct area. But, just put your trust in it, because it's correct! Hidden in the trees, is this wonderful place. Their check-in desk along with the gift shop, introduction photos to the area, bathrooms and cafeteria are so elegantly crafted and maintained. Even going into the bathroom to look at how everything is built is exciting. You then are guided down a decent path to walk on leading up to the house. This is where you meet your tour guide. Ours, Mitch, was incredible. He was so knowledgeable and knew a lot about Frank Lloyd Wright and the homes he built. He was also very funny too. I see some of the comments are regarding the lack of ability to take pictures inside the house. Yes, this is true, but this is only true for the basic tour, which we enjoyed. Live in the moment, don't worry about it. If you really want to take pictures inside, they have other tours. However, after the tour is over, they let you wander AROUND the houses and the trails and you can take all the pictures you want. All in all, it was quite an overwhelming experience. You could really feel the passion in the craftsmanship of each room as well as what Frank Lloyd Wright had envisioned when building houses that were one with nature. Enjoy it when you go. Recommended to do the "no photos" tour. It doesn't last long, but the tour lasts longer mentally if you aren't on your phone the whole time. read more

Hubby and I have been to a couple of Wright houses around the Midwest, so I expected to like Fallingwater. But I didn't realize I would fall in love... It is honestly a breathtakingly beautiful home. And the waterfall is really, truly, part of the home in a way that I couldn't envisage from the photos I'd seen. Our tour, at $22.00 each, was well worth the money. Our tour guide was expert and interesting and the the grounds were also well worth seeing. Our visit was the on the first weekend Fallingwater was open for the season. For that reason, I think the crowd was much sparser than usual and our visit also benefited from that. read more

Fallingwater - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mill Run, Pennsylvania

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A spectacular achievement in architecture. There's not too many human made structures that can make you say wow from both the inside and the outside. Fallingwater did several times and that was the Frank Lloyd Wright's genius. The house is beautifully integrated with nature and while some spaces are small, they are so open and inviting that you just want to grab a book and spend a weekend at the property. A few downsides: Some hallways are small so if you are tall/large you might have to squeeze through. Some balcony railings are very low, so be careful. You will know how awesome houses can be, and be forever envious. Definitely a must-visit if you are anywhere in the area. read more

This was my second visit to Fallingwater. I was thrilled to tour the home for the first time in October 2015, and made sure it would be on our itinerary when my husband and I decided to take a two week long road trip to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary this summer. I woke up before my alarm went off this morning, I was so excited! My husband kept teasing me about the fact that we arrived at 9:00 am for our 10:30 am tour time. We had time to walk down to the viewing area and take a few photos beforehand and I was careful to make sure we returned to the Visitors Center before 10:00 am so we could use the facilities before our tour began. Imagine my dismay when I heard them call our tour group while I was in the ladies room! It was only 10:05 and our tour was scheduled for 10:30! I didn't even finish drying my hands -- rejoining my husband in the waiting area, I asked if our group number had been called and he said he wasn't sure. I asked another man and he said, "Yes, they've already left." We went down the path as quickly as we could, wondering if we'd misheard because we couldn't believe they would start a 10:30 tour a full half hour before the scheduled time at the risk of leaving people behind. We saw no one and even debated at one point if we should go back to the visitors center. Ultimately, because I'd been on the tour before, I told my husband that we could go ahead and wait at the driveway where the tour begins if we'd misheard and were actually ahead of our group, rather than behind it. I became really irritated when we arrived to discover our group already in the middle of the tour. Fortunately, we didn't miss very much of the tour, but I wanted my husband to experience the full tour, not just part of the tour. And I can't help but think about the possibility of people who arrive 20 minutes early, only to discover their tour group left 30 minutes early... it just doesn't seem right, especially when tickets are as expensive as they are. We skipped the little presentation at the end where the conservancy hits visitors up for even more money to preserve the home. I am all for historical preservation, but I think it's in bad taste to ask for even more money after visitors have already purchased expensive tickets to tour the home. It could be handled in a better way. After we returned to the visitors center, I went in the gift shop to purchase a lapel pin for a gift. Because we had another tour scheduled at Kentuck Knob, I asked one of the employees if they had any. She motioned to a basket that had one pin design, so small it was difficult to identify Fallingwater. I said, "This is all you have?" At which point she said, "Yep" and went back to her very important conversation with her co-worker. I decided to shop for my gift elsewhere. I do want to see Fallingwater in all the seasons - but truthfully, I've a bad taste in my mouth after today. Especially when comparing my experience there with the absolutely delightful experience we had touring Kentuck Knob later in the afternoon. Word of warning: Arrive at Fallingwater no less than 45 minutes before your tour, and make sure you are waiting in place no less than 30 minutes before your tour. They do not stick to the schedule and they will leave you behind without a thought. I attempted to tell someone what happened to us and was handed the manager's card with the comment, "All I can do is give you her card. That's all I can do." read more

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If you are a fan of exquisite architecture, Fallingwater is a must-see. The integration of the natural landscape with the structure, "bringing the outside in," is absolutely mind-blowing. A friend of mine who is a designer phrased it this way, "Your life will never be the same. Now you'll see variations on this in modern design but 'a poor/commendable/successful/whatever ripoff of Fallingwater'". She's absolutely right. Thank you to Susan, our wonderful guide for the in-depth architectural tour. read more

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This historical house is a perfect shining example of true forward thinking design. The most important thing for you to know, critical, is to visit this home. Build for the Kaufmann family, and donated to become a national treasure by the son, this house has never changed hands, still has tons of the original furniture and fixings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and has a wealth of background evident thru the mother's journal and close contact with the Pennsylvania Preservation Society. There's not nearly enough typing space to write about the house. I'll just say, we went on an In-Depth House Tour ($80/person), and it was well worth the money. Our guide, Don, did a wonderful job talking in context of the Kaufmann family, and what was going on in society at the time this house was built in the 1930s. Those little tidbits, all strung together, built an image of the surrounding times. A few things of note: The In-Depth tour is offered every day of the week, two time slots per day, either 8:30 am or 8:45 am. None a given in the afternoon. The museum's gallery currently chronicles Wright's life and times, talking about his homes in Wisconsin, Illinois and his "testing grounds" in Arizona. The pictures and architectural drawings are priceless. Our trip to Fallingwater could not have been more perfect: Gorgeous sunny blue skies, rolling hills covered with lush green foliage (thank you rain gods for this beautiful season), and a truly magnificent walk back in time! Highly recommend this to any historical, cultural and architect buff out there. read more

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The home and setting are stunning. The pictures do not do it Justice. It's a typical Wright house with wonderful use of windows to bring the outside in. The grounds are a different matter, however. The many stairs that take you back to the visitor center are wide and do NOT have any railings. It is unsafe at best, not to mention not ADA-compliant. Wright did not put bannisters in his houses but did fashion the stone walls to give you a place to steady yourself. There's just no excuse for a lack of railings on the grounds, which he did not design. read more

The house is beautiful and I highly suggest visiting. Unfortunately, our tour guide was... lacking. It wasn't only that he seemed a bit less learned on the topic than his colleagues, but also that he had poor boundaries. At one point, I was talking with my soon-to-be-fiance (I was about to propose), and our guide just needled into our conversation and said, "What are you guys talking about?" This was just the first of many other cringy moments. He made a number of rude comments to some ladies with canes in our group and seemed poorly prepared for... pretty much everything. I had to pivot my proposal plan on a dime. He also knew very little about the famous artwork in the house and completely forgot to tell us the significance of the dining room table chairs in the first room of the house... a detail which came up in the house's final room, where one of the original chairs lived. He asked if any of us had seen it before, and we looked at him blankly. Then he groaned and went, 'Ughhhhhhh. Auuughhh. I forgot to talk about the dining room chairs.' It was embarrassing. Should have known we'd be in for it at the very start of the tour when the guide asked where everyone was from. When we said, 'Oak Park,' he looked at us and asked where that was. I'm like, 'Dude, you work at Falling Water and you don't know Oak Park?' Wow. We learned more about Falling Water from our tour at nearby Kentuck Knob, honestly. read more

I was thrilled when I got tickets for the IN DEPTH tour as a gift. Mind you I came in the beginning of March so it was pretty cold. Falling water is an architectural landmark. I am in awe of Wright's vision to integrate nature into the home. Once you step foot into the building and hear the sounds of the waterfalls or take a look out of one of the many cantilevered terraces you can envision the idea that Wright had in mind and understand why he was such a genius and a visionary in his day. Now I did the in-depth tour and was able to go in a smaller group of 8 people. We visited the main house and the guest house and was able to get a deeper understanding to the relationship of the house with the idea of nature that Wright wanted to preserve in his design. Our guide was phenomenal. She was very patient in answering any questions we had and was very knowledgable on the house, the art work, guests that had frequented there, dates in relation to Wright's other works, and why certain things were designed the way they were. My trip to Pittsburgh was to specifically see this. It is about a 1.5 hour drive. It isn't bad but it is in a very remote area so if you're planning a trip you may want to either pack a lunch or enjoy the cafe on the grounds. I do believe that with the in-depth tour you can have access to the grounds after the tour. The public bathrooms are located in the open air pavilion. It also houses the cafe and gift shop. The bathrooms were spotless! While I was waiting for the tour to start in the pavilion I got a sense that I was in a treehouse. It was so open and bright! I won't give any more details away of the house! But definitely I must come back during all the seasons to see the house as it was meant to be with its surroundings! My only regret is that I had wished I had paired it with another one of his houses like the Kentuck Knob but I since we got the earliest morning in-depth tour I would say that we were done around lunch time and were a little tired. read more

Fallingwater - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mill Run, Pennsylvania

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