The studio and home are just the start of it - it is the neighborhood, the self guided walking tour, the artistry, and the vision that make this experience memorable. At $25 for the combination walking tour and home/studio tour you are helping to not only enlighten yourself, but to support the preservation of some of Wright's most classic works. read more

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Your Go Chicago Card will give you an interior tour of the home and studio. The walking tour of the houses Wright designed in the neighborhood is non-docent led, and is the same price. Not included in your Go Card. I think I got bad luck. BOTH the cashiers working at the time were dismissive, maybe even snobby. I would have been happy to turn my back to them, tickets in hand and not come back... ... But I had the misfortune of needing to ask them a question so I had to go back and though I stood in line to ask a question (there was no info desk, just the cashiers selling the tickets and gift shop items) they kept skipping right over me to entertain old ladies cutting in line to buy items. Ugh! They must have seen I had nothing in my hand. I had 5 stars up there but reliving that experience right now made me take off 1 star. Beautiful building and studio in a great neighborhood. The docent was friendly, clear, cheerful, patient and knowledgeable. But not too stuck up to admit not knowing all the answers. The beauty of the house and studio... and the great experience I had with the docent led me back into the gift shop... The gift shop carried tons of great Wright-inspired knick-knacks. So I stood in line with my $36 Christmas Ornament... and the cashiers looked at the other ladies, looked at me, and passed me over again. Look, there are other old ladies behind me and I'm getting old too! I skipped on the overpriced ornament. read more

I was totally impressed with his house and studio. Especially the studio. It's just a quick walk from the train station as well. As I walked to the house I put my mind back in time to imagine what it must have been like. So many beautiful homes there. I was on a tight schedule so I could not wander for long. I would def recommend the tour for anyone that is interested in architecture. read more

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This review is for Wright Plus 2019 which has open house for Frank Lloyd Wright private homes in Oak Park, IL. The orientation center was at the FLW House and Studio where you can get your wristband and map brochure. There are also multiple port-a-potties since the private homes do not have bathrooms. For FLW members, the nearby church was used as an oasis for indoor bathroom and snacks with water. Out of the 10 houses, 2 houses are part of the FLW trust owned and the other 8 are private homes. So, we visited 6 of the 8 private homes in the rain. Our personal favorites are the Fricke and Webb but all 6 were unique in their own way. Tickets are $75 for members from Nov to New Years. Don't miss if you are already a FLW member. Plus, you get discount on your lunch/dinner for restaurants in Oak Park, IL who participate. read more

Frank Lloyd Wright purchased his home at 951 Chicago Ave in 1889 with $5,000 of borrowed money. This is now a priceless home that is the meeting place for the F.L.W. walking tour that takes place thru-out the week. They will first take you on a guided tour of where the famous architect lived and worked. Many homes and buildings in Oak Pk. and Forrest Park were designed by him. It is inspiring to tour the home where his wife, himself and his 6 children lived. It is educational and very interesting to go on the walking tour and learn about the other homes and buildings also. The annex of the home on Chicago Ave is now a gift shop that sells exclusively F.L.W. themed items. To go on just the tour of the F.L. Wright home and studio tour takes aprox. an hour. The whole building was completely restored with the helpful advise of historians and of course the family they recreated what the home was like when the family lived there. All the immediate family is now passed away. His grandchildren and great-grandkids are still around. Each one of his children became a success in their own right as well. The tour guides and even the ladies at the gift shop are required to take a six week class to learn all about Mr. Wright , his legacy and architecture. The tour of the home is $12.00. The walking tour is also $12.00 or for $20.00 you can go on both tours. They told me there are aprox. 500 homes and buildings in the U.S. that were designed by F.L.Wright and his firm. read more

Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio - Museums Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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Beautiful. Don't miss the tour if you're in oak park. The light, the spaces, the ingenious design to fit his family's life will inspire. Lots of unexpected touches- a tree growing through the house. The back of a piano hacked off so it would fit just right. All of the furniture designed specifically for the house. I'm not an architectural expert as you can tell. But the house and studio are a fascinating look into a genius' mind. read more

If you're a huge FLW fan, this is a must-see on your list. Our tour guide, Margaret, was quite informative, so it didn't feel too terribly long and dragged out. Walking around the neighborhood also should be sufficient, and there's a FLW park around the corner - quite cute. +Frank Lloyd Wright house tour +ask for Margaret +some parking around the area read more

Hubs and I came here on Valentine's Day...we had a great time and our tour guide, Michael, was wonderful and very knowledgeable. Highly recommend this tour if you're in the Oak Park area. Plan to spend about an hour here; longer if you want to browse the gift shop. A little disappointed that there was no time set aside at the end of the tour for questions. Not sure if tours are always like this, or just on the day we visited. You can buy your tickets in advance online. I do NOT recommend this tour for individuals who are handicapped (use any sort of walking accommodations), cannot walk up stairs or stand for long periods of time. Nothing is handicap accessible. read more

Went to the inside tour of the home and studio. The tour was informative and very interesting. The tour guide and people working in the museum shop were extremely nice, friendly and accommodating. Highly recommend! read more

I've long been a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright's work so it was fun to get to tour his home and studio. The hourlong tour was fascinating and our guide did a great job of speaking loudly and clearly despite being masked. It seemed kinda pricy ($20/ticket) for the tour. But I'd still recommend it. read more

The indoor tour of this FLW home was totally worth the time and cost to get out to Oak Park. The walking tour if he neighborhood and the tour of Unity Temple were also great. read more

Great your. Wonderful example of FLW's life and career. The docents are all very knowledgeable.

This was truly an amazing tour that my parents and I will never forget! I grew up with my mami always speaking fondly of the architecture course that she took in college where she loved learning about Frank Lloyd Wright and Mies van der Rohe! So when my parents came to Chicago for a few days...this was a "no brainer" choice on our list of fun things to do. The easiest part was taking the Chicago Architecture Foundation's (CAF) Tour which included the 20-30 minute narrated ride in a coach bus to and from the Wright Home and Studio, included a walking tour of nearby Wright designed homes in Oak Park, and terminated after a fully guided tour at The Unity Temple with another educationally narrated bus ride back to downtown Chicago to the CAF headquarters. (See CAF Yelp Page for that review)...our Docent was retired professor David Smith-absolutely THE BEST! Highlights: The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio- Wright..I mean right now..I am just going to address the highlights of the home and studio tour presented by our guide Irene (who is phenomenal, exceptionally knowledgeable (is a retired librarian), and excellent with people)! The Home- 1. Electricity was installed in the 1900s! (See photograph of light switch). 2. Influenced by Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright used rice paper lighting for the first time in the home 3. Windows were called "light screens" which allowed individuals in the house to gaze outside as if nature was all encompassing 4. Furniture in the dining room included a large table that seated the entire family including a specially made high chair for the baby/toddler to be pulled right up to the table without a tray so s/he could join the family at the table 5. The Family resided in the home for approximately 20 years 6. The home included a "playroom" for the children which included "The Fisherman and the Genie" story mural for the children, as well as a piano and a seating area for an audience to enjoy the performances 7. Entry and Exit from the home was considered "a journey of discovery" in which the entryway was "hidden" 8. No attics were built in the home..Mr. Wright carved out the wood in the ceiling to give it an open area -style of architecture is called the manipulation throughout the home as compression and release 9. In 1909 Mr. Wright left his wife and six children (heavily in debt) to continue to reside in the home while he left for Berlin, Germany. The Studio- 1. Includes one of five urns that Mr. Wright designed (on display-see picture) 2. Includes drafting tables and modern lighting in which 131 buildings were designed in his studio 3. A safe was installed for Mr. Wright to store his collection of Japanese Prints 4. Marion Mahoney was the first practicing female architect employed by Mr. Wright in his Studio-however, she did not appear to receive "recognition" for her contributions (see: https://www.curbed.com/2017/6/8/15755858/marion-mahony-walter-burley-griffin-wright-drawings ) 5. Studio included a library 6. Natural Light emulates through the studio drafting area via a Cupola FYI-Hollywood Celebrities have taken the tour! Prior to the tour while waiting outside I spoke with one of the Docents from the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust who stated that "Yes some celebrities (Hollywood) have visited this location....including actor Richard Gere, actor Elijah Wood who played Frodo Baggins in the movie 'Lord of The Rings,' and actress Bebe Neuwirth who played Lilith in the TV sitcom 'Cheers' among others." read more

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Oak Park is famous thanks to Ernest Hemingway, and architect Frank Lloyd Wright. His career lasted decades, but it was starting to blossom when he designed his own home and studio in Oak Park. As his Prairie Style became more popular his career took off, and so did Wright when he left his wife and children behind. Wright was a great architect, and he was apparently quite the ladies' man. Tourists flock from all over the world to visit this attractive complex, and you will see many interesting details and elements of his design palette. read more

Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio - Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio - Museums Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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Any fan should take the tour. It offers lots of fascinating tidbits about Frank Lloyd Wright as a person and architect -- some about how fabulous he was and also what a scoundrel he could be. Well worth your time. BTW -- I don't what to tell you what is said on the tour. It would ruin the surprise. But one thing that has stuck was the piano cut through the stairs -- what a complex man! read more

I wanted to come here for a while, but it was out of the way and didn't want to go by myself and a myriad of other reasons that kept coming up. However, with a day off approaching I thought there would be no better opportunity to make my way out there with my traveling companion. We passed by the house the first time because we were so taken with this garishly decorated red white and blue house across the street. I ended up in the next town over before doubling back. The museum was a house after all so it kind of blends in with the rest of the residential neighborhood. Parking was a little bit awkward, again because it's a residential neighborhood and it's not like they'll have a parking lot there. The tours start about once an hour and we we got there at the right time. A little browsing, with enough time to get a ticket and do a little more looking around the Gingko tree shop before the tour begain. The tour was run by a volunteer guide who obviously had a great affection for the works of Frank Lloyd Wright. He obviously mentioned his background and his design style but kind of glossed over some of his er...character faults let's say. I agree with Colleen when she said that it was little tough standing around for over an hour while going from room to room. I did enjoy the rooms though and anyone who likes basic architecture and just how the he designed everything with a sense of flow-wide to narrow to wide. My favorite rooms being the living room and the children's playroom with the baby grand suspended from the far wall was pretty impressive. I'm glad I came here once. read more

We visited on a snowy weekend. I struggle to find FLW a genius as many think because of his use of flat roofs that leaked, etc. But, at the same time, I am impressed by the popularity and the following. We enjoyed the tour and found it educational - especially about the family. Having seen many of his other homes it was neat to see where it all started. read more

We went here because we planned poorly and it turns out the Robie House in Hyde Park, Chicago is closed to the public on Tuesday and Wednesday. But this is perhaps *more* fascinating! You can walk all around Oak Park seeing many examples of FLW architecture and then see his actual first family home and office space. The guides are very knowledgeable. For example, the guide sort of vaguely hinted at marital problems when Wright left in 1909, never to come back. She never mentioned that again, but at the end of the tour upon a question, she could detail exactly what happened, which was very interesting. (basically, mistresses!) read more

This was a FABULOUS tour. Our guide was amazing, she knew everything about the home. The home is well maintained and cared for. has an interesting gift shop. I would love to visit some of the other Frank Lloyd Wright homes in the area. read more

Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio - Museums Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

If you are interested in design and architecture, this is a must-do! One of the reasons I decided to visit Chicago was to see some of Wright's work. So visiting his home and studio in Oak Park was exciting for me. A rainy day and 37 degree weather couldn't keep me away. We bought tickets to the tour of the home which last about 45 minutes. While waiting for the tour to start, we decided to drive around the area to see the many beautiful homes in the Oak Park neighborhood. This is a great way to see the some of the homes Wright had designed in the town. Back in the house and ready for the tour, the docent starts us in Wrights home. The docent is very knowledgeable about the home and he has some great anecdotes to share about Wright and the family. The home has been restored back to the time of 1909, and the curator does a great job in creating how the home would have looked back then. The tour ends in the studio with its magnificent beams and study area. It shows how clever and creative Wright was. I noticed as the day went on, a lot more people came for the tour, so try to come early. Also the tour costs about $12 per adult. read more

Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio - Museums Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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It's a good tour and it's the house he built for him and his family. It has history and the tour guide was very knowledgeable. If you like Frank Lloyd Wright and visiting historic sights then this is the place for you. They also have a gift shop and bathrooms. You can't take backpacks or drinks on the tour so leave them in your car or they can lock them up for you! read more

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The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio tour is worth while...if you're into architecture, especially Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. If you are just a casual fan, it might not be the most entertaining experience for you. Personally, I enjoy Wright's work, and found the tour to be interesting. It was a little on the long side, though, and the tour guide was doing his best to make it memorable. What's great about the tour though, is that the Studio and Home are surrounded by other Frank Lloyd Wright designed homes. Oak Park has some really beautiful homes in the neighborhood. read more

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Very well preserved house. Heads up to the Foundation who keeps this house and making sure people like me could visit it and learn about the wonderful world of Frank Lloyd Wrigh. Make sure to add a visit to Hemingway Birth Home when visiting Oak Park area. After all, how often will you be coming here? But both places definitely worth a trip. read more

Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio - Museums Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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Very educational tour. You will need to store backpacks and large bags before taking the tour and it is free. Jerry was our tour guide and he did a very good job on the walking tour. Well spoken and very polite. You need to be interested in all things Wright or this tour will be boring. But then why would you be on it...Wright? Lots of time spent in his original house and then you cross into his work studio. Gift shop has lots of Wright stuff for sale. Surrounding neighborhood has a few Wright designed homes, along with other gorgeous homes, that you can walk to and look at. We took the L from downtown Chicago and then it was about a 8 block walk to get to the exhibit. I think it was worth it so give it a try if architecture is a interest of yours. read more

So I will share with you my personal tour of the OP area, beginning with the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio, which is probably the main reason you came here. Definitely check out the house, a tree grows through it and you find out his son invented Lincoln logs, how cool is that? If you do the walking tour with the cassette you will probably learn all sorts of things I don't know, but if you walk around or ride a bike around at night you can see inside all the cool big houses in the neighborhood that leave their lights on and forget to close their blinds. ;-) Read a book about Frank before your visit and find out about his poor business practices, not paying his workers etc., makes things a little juicier. Also note that there's a Robie house nearby, Hemingway's childhood home, a bunch of Gunderson's etc. Ok, now you'll need a car or at least a bike for the next part. If you head west on Oak Park Ave. you can rent a bike at Oak Park Cyclery. Go west until you go under some railroad tracks, and immediately turn left into the alley that runs parallel to the tracks. It's like a rugged mountain road, cool eh? (I know there's a sign that says no thru traffic, but just ignore, it does go through.) Take a right if you make it out of the alley. Take Oak St. west until you hit Thatcher woods, stop at Trailside if you're into that kind of thing (not part of this tour) and head south to Lake St. on Edgewood Pl., take a right, and another right onto Auvergne Pl.. Snazzy big houses, maybe a few more Wrights back here even. Don't go any further west though, Maywood is right on the other side of the woods. Turn around and head east on Lake St., take a right under the tracks on Lathrop, and a left onto Hawthorne, heading east now, parallel to the el tracks. Turn right into the alley after you pass Ashland. Check out the three story garage with a glass wall that mirrors the back of the house. Now go around to the front to see a normal looking Cape Cod, the address is 382 Ashland, River Forest. Crazy! I just realized you can see it on the Google map thingy. Never mind the sign that says "no stopping", I think that's meant for me. I would direct you to go around the block at this point to see the mini Statue of Liberty on Lathrop, but it seems someone stole it. Jerk. Anyhoo, turn around, head back north on Ashland, under the tracks up to the intersection of Iowa and Ashland and dig the lawn on the northwest corner. 906 Ashland River Forest. It's golf turf. One time I was standing out front pondering the lawn when the neighbor's kid peddled out to me on his big wheel. He asked if I was looking at the lawn. He told me people come over and shampoo the lawn. Wow. I went trick or treating there once thinking they'd probably have really good candy, but they didn't. Continue north on Ashland, take a right on Greenfield. Head east back into Oak Park, cross Harlem, cross Oak Park Ave. until you hit Fair Oaks. Southeast corner. It's a house shaped like a spaceship. It's the kind of mansion Luke Skywalker would eventually build on Tatooine. Serious. My friend said a classmate of his lived here and they took a school field trip to see the inside and the beds are built into the walls. Cool. If you head back south on Fair Oaks I think you see some more mansions, maybe Cheney? Pass the high school, and you can stop for yummy eats at Tasty Dog. Or head back to Forest Park to Goldyburgers to get your drink on and a delicious burger. There used to be faces in the cement walls of the el train tracks, but I think they've been stolen so the tour ends here. I know, it's hard to believe all the attention is on FLW when there's so much more to see! read more

Oak Park is such a treasure, it has so many cool things to view, shop in and eat from but this just may be the coolest part. I have a friend who lives in a Prairie Architecture home in another state so 30 years ago or so I visited the center in Oak Park. About a year ago, I came back and was blown away. It is a terrific set up with a wonderful gift shop and all kinds of different ways to tour the homes. We elected the self guided walking tour with the little wand you hold up to your ear. Anywhere else in the country you might look odd but here, you are just one of many admiring the amazing architecture. I loved all the houses and the descriptions. Along the way, we encountered a perfectly charming lemonade stand run by polite fun kids and supervised by their friendly Mom. (Some teens also mocked us on the route, but isn't that the job of awkward youth, to act awkward?) Just a perfect day and one I hope to repeat. You should go, the weather is getting nicer. Maybe you will see me there, I will buy you a lemonade! read more

We live in an era where everyone has the opportunity to be a cross-over celebrity, J-Lo first started as a Fly girl, then became Jenny from the Block, then an actress and now n a judge on American Idol. Well move over, cause the most impressive crossover was Frank Lloyd Wright - not only did he design buildings, but he designed furnishings and interiors. He's the kinda guy Smithe Furniture would love to have on staff. As one who appreciates architecture, this visit has been on my to-do list for a while, but the Groupon is what finally got me where. I dont live to far and I've never seen the house. After visiting, I now wonder why it took me so long to get here. Beautiful house, knowledgeable staff and a great way to spend a few hours. He built a house that is surprisingly functional by today's standards. But the piano freaked me out. read more

Truthfully...I didn't want to go to Frank Lloyd Wright's house in Oak Park. At all. It was at the suggestion of my stepdad, in visiting from Michigan that I conceded. I just couldn't figure out why people from smalltown America would come to Chicago to hang out in the burbs...sigh. Oh well, I digress. We pack up in the car and head out...(a straight shot down 290, or the green line is relatively close). It was a beautiful day, and that was a for sure bonus. The tour is $12. And truthfully...it is a bit slow moving. I'd have rather just walked through and not had to stand at attention for an HOUR while the (very well-informed) tour guide told me about every minute detail in that house. I'd rather read what i'm interested about or be able to ask questions, but I felt like I was in school. The restoration/preservation is impressive though, and the staff friendly. It's a great stop with parents, out of towners, architecture fans etc...as I guess Oak Park isn't THAT far out of town :) read more

My S.O. is a structural engineer, so the FLW Home and Studio Tour was a must on our recent trip to Chicago. I must say, it ended up being my favorite part of the trip. We ordered our tour tickets online the night before. INVEST IN A PHOTO PASS. I wish we had. I didn't realize when we bought the tickets that you need to buy a photo pass to take pictures in the home. It's only a few dollars more. Anyway, we were coming from the Loop and didn't want to be late, so we ended up leaving an hour early. We arrived at the house at 9:30 am, 30 minutes before our tour started. Luckily, the gift shop was open and we were able to keep warm in there while waiting for the tour. Everyone was very pleasant and the gift shop was well stocked. The tour was just fabulous. I wish I remembered our tour guide's name, because she was amazing. Obviously well versed in the history of the house, she was able to answer all our questions. Not only that, she pointed out the beautiful design elements in an intelligent way. The house was so beautiful, I definitely regretted not buying the photo pass. If we come back in the warmer months, I want to do the neighborhood tour. The houses, even the ones FLW didn't design, are just gorgeous. Would be a great way to spend an afternoon. read more

The $25 combination home/studio tour and audio walking tour is a reasonably good value. The Foundation's web site and online ticketing are not easy to use, making it difficult to figure out what times are available. I gave up and bought tickets on site, which should be fine at all but peak mid-day hours in the summer - you might have to wait 20 minutes to an hour. The home is quirky and small, and best viewed as a site of early experimentation by FLW. Summer tours tend to be crowded - 12 or 16 persons moving through the small rooms - and as others have written, the guides can be bristly and resistant to questions that depart from their script. (Example: my touring partner asked a question about FLW's personal life and the guide responded: "You haven't read the book!" --meaning the foundation's biography, available for purchase of course in the shop. Come on, just answer the d--n question; we paid you $15 already.) The studio is more impressive in its use of geometric forms, its fit and finish (the house is, in places, shabby and dreary) and technical items such as a tension chain to permit a wide domed roof free of interior support (a trick which, our guide omitted, FLW must have borrowed from Renaissance masters, such as Brunelleschi, who used a massive one in Florence's Duomo in the 1500s). Kids under 8 may be be bored. Fidgety kids may find difficulty within the home and studio because of the strict rules against touching anything, which may be hard to enforce because there is little room to move once you're inside each of the rooms in the house. The walking audio tour - best done after the home/studio - is excellent. Audio segments are just the right length and tell you the right things. When you're done, you have seen an impressive cluster of FLW-designed homes across many years, as well as other homes by other architects that FLW would have competed with, for contrast and sources of ideas. If you drive there, be aware that there is no parking lot. Parking is on the street in the neighborhood across busy Chicago Avenue - and crossing it is hazardous; use caution. Parts of Oak Park are marginal in terms of crime; leave nothing visible in the car. Dining options within walking distance are limited (one pizza place, one Thai place); it would be best to arrive at mid-morning, or have lunch in Oak Park before driving to the home/studio. read more

Plenty of reasons to give 5 stars. Five stars for the playroom alone. Another five stars for the studio. Our guide, John, was an extremely knowledgable docent. In spite of the fact that the group in front of us was moving slowly, John was able to quickly fill in with more details and answered all of my questions without hesitation. So five stars for him, too. Organized, well-managed operation, and I even received good customer service in the extremely busy gift shop! I didn't do the self-guided audio walking tour. Instead, I bought a map of Oak Park highlighting architectural interest from the gift shop ($3.95) and walked back to the train station via Forest. Easy! Highly recommended, well worth the train ride to Oak Park. read more

We did the 1-hour interior guided tour ($15/adult) on a beautiful spring Saturday afternoon, and it was very nice. Peggy was our curator and did a fine job with our large group. I recommend it to you FLW fans, but it's not a substitute for an architecture lesson so don't say you've been warned. I only wish the house was bigger so we'd have more to see! The Oak Park neighborhood (especially downtown on Marion St and Chicago Ave) is so inviting and relaxing. We ate lunch on Marion St, then walked to the FLW home & studio for the tour (0.6 miles apart). We walked past several gorgeous FLW homes on Chicago Ave and got many beautiful photos of them! FYI: Weekend tours are every 10 or 20 minutes starting from 10:40 AM, and if you want to take photos inside the house, you have to buy a $5 photography pass. read more

Joined Yelp just to leave this review as we were so impressed with the excellent service we received here. We arrived very late in the day and I was fully expecting that we would not get in. The lady in the shop let us join the last tour that had just left. She also rapidly processed the books we wanted to purchase. The tour was great and the tour guide very knowledgeable. She was keen for us to ask questions but she gave so much information that there was rarely a need. We love the art deco design so wherever we looked was simply beautiful. I am not sure how anyone could live a family life inside a work of art, but Frank clearly only ever saw how he could make it better. But what took the experience above and beyond was at the end. A heavy thunderstorm had rolled in while we were on the tour. There was my wife and I and two other ladies sheltering from the deluge and waiting for a taxi when Mark who worked there offered to drive us all to the train station, even though the traffic was very heavy. Such a kind and generous offer and so appreciated. I can't praise our experience enough. read more

I hate tours. The chatty old people who want to desperately prove to the tour guide that they're intelligent, the couples reciting brochures and the annoying tour guide themselves. Really, what is with tours and the relentless amount of khaki? Anyway, I have mixed feelings. The interior was certainly rather pretty, but if you're like me who being in a small-ish space with a tour group was making me severely claustrophobic. My tour guide was kind of free about touching things herself even though she scolded others, the whole thing was pretty monotonous, I'd rather read a little text and tried to block her out on occasion. The nearby architecture was impressive I guess, my mom certainly loved it though she also found the tour pointless. There's just no filter between interesting and boring, I mentally despised anyone who kept asking questions to impress the guide. Not enough time to enjoy the surroundings either. Not worth the money to me but some parents will enjoy it, also helps to be more of an architecture fan. For those who sent back unsatisfied comments: I am interested in architecture, it's the drabness of other elements I don't enjoy. The point of the review is it's my opinion and maybe my opinion differs from other reviewers. If this tour had been a little more vibrant and changed my opinion on tours, great, but it didn't. More of the reviews lean towards having had a more fun experience so people will probably read those instead of agreeing with mine, that's fine too. It's not an attempt at slander, it's a record of what I experienced. read more

A very worthwhile tour if you're an enthusiast of architecture or design. Simply amazing that FLW designed this as a 21 year old while under the employ of Louis Sullivan. In comparison to other fin de siècle homes in Oak Park, the design is startlingly modern, and still feels fresh. Our docent-led tour took about an hour and covered both his home and studio. Standout rooms included the barrel vaulted playroom on the top floor which houses the keyboard of a grand piano (the bulk of it is under the stairs to the balcony). The drafting room in the studio is an amazing space, making the most of natural lighting through clerestory windows. The balcony and domed roof is supported by a system of robust chains, a system similar to those used by other famous domes including St. Paul's in London. The Home and Studio Tour along with the Unity Temple tour are highly recommended for Frank Lloyd Wright aficionados. read more

Those benches that double as storage to shove all of the kids' toys and things from the floor are something I really do need for my own home! Also this is a great place to take visitors. Buy them an overpriced souvenir or book (sadly, they don't sell those massive trunk sized storage benches!) to support FLW and the tour guides who know their stuff. read more

We had our wedding reception at The Rookery and always wanted to check out Frank Lloyd Wright's home and Studio in Oak Park. We finally took the second to last afternoon tour the Sunday before Christmas. Tickets are $17/adult and an additional $5 for a photo pass to take pics during the tour. It was great because it wasn't busy at all and we ended up with a personal guided tour for our party of 4. Our guide was very knowledgeable and engaging throughout the tour. My mom asked a lot of questions, which our guide was able to answer. Since it wasn't busy, we were the only ones in the house. We were able to take our time to enjoy the architecture and details in every room. I really loved the stained glass windows, built ins, first use of recessed lighting, and integration of nature into the house. Afterwards, our guide was kind enough to point out additional FLW houses to check out on Forest Ave. We took a walk down the block to the end of the road where a head bust of FLW looks down the street. Some of the houses had plaques describing the house's history. I can imagine the walking tour would be worthwhile during warmer months. read more

Great tourist activity in the suburbs west of Chicago! Tickets can be purchased online and are about $16 with a student ID. Yours start on time. Our tour guide has been volunteering since 2013 and was incredibly knowledgeable! It was great to see the first home FLW designed for himself and his family and hear about the evolution of his career. The gift shop has some awesome finds so be sure to stop in! read more

Drool, just drool. I found my love of Frank Lloyd Wright while on business in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. See http://www.yelp.com/biz/price-tower-arts-center-bartlesville. So we jumped at the chance to visit his studio during our visit to Chicago. We went on the walking tour, which came with an audio tour of the nearby houses. It was the most relaxing and inspiring part of our vacation. I would just love love to live in a neighborhood like this! It's so up our alley, we've been in a 1933 art deco home in Houston for 6 years and couldn't live in anything else. We definitely did the most damage in the gift shop that we've ever done anywhere. Among many things, the best prize were my favorite umbrella ever. OMG. Still just dying about it. read more

I've done this tour twice now and have enjoyed it each time. Great little history lesson and glimpse into the life of Frank Lloyd Wright, some fabulous architecture, and interior design. FLW fans will enjoy this for sure, but anyone who can appreciate good design, architecture, art, history, etc. should enjoy it too. Easy/free street parking, and close to a cute downtown area in Oak Park. This is just 8 miles or so from Chicago, so it's definitely doable for any Chicago tourists. They also have a great gift shop not just of tchotchkes, but of attractive, useful home goods and gift options. read more