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Frank Lloyd Wright

4.6 (17 reviews)
Closed 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

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Park in Florida Southern College lot and walk across the road!
Martin N.

Guggenheim Museum is one of my favorite places in New York. This is one of eight Frank Lloyd Wright Building designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site among Statue of Liberty, Grand Canyon and other landmarks. You can't walk by and not stop to admire its elegant design. You can spend days and evenings to study this architectural wonder. When I found that Frank Lloyd Wright did some major design for Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida, immediately I put it in as an entry in my Must-Go-Visit list. On a nice breezy Friday, we stop by the Sharp Family Tourism and Education Center to explore some of 13 remarkable structures by Frank Lloyd Wright. We parked on the college parking lot with a designed parking space for visitor with a short walk across the Frank Llyod Wright Way. Led by docent, Carol H., we visited an Usonian house. That is a nice name from United States Of Northern Independent America. In theory, Usonian home was designed as an inexpensive residence that would encourage informal style of living. In other words, this would mean large open living areas, small bedrooms with built-in storage space. Generally, with horizontal floor plan, no attics or basements with flat roof. They used construction techniques board, and batten walls. Many models were created and constructed with prefabricated concrete blocks. Usonian house highlighted or blended in a robust relationship with outdoors, connecting the inside to the outside. This is a perfect setup for Florida to take advantage of sun, lakes and water, and hills. Unfortunately, it is not as inexpensive as conceived and 13 affordable faculty homes were never built. This Usonian house was designed in 1939 but not built until 2013! Another surprise is that in this flat Florida, this campus is on a hill overlooking Lake Hollingsworth. As we walked around the campus, we can see how Frank Lloyd Wright use his architectural style to build Roux Library and other buildings. At the center of campus is the Water Dome with a refreshing water streaming toward the pool. By now you'll find that all buildings are connected via esplanade but they are slightly low, no more than 6 foot 8 inches or at most 7 feet height I found that the tall Annie Pfeiffer Chapel amazing. But the smaller Danforth Chapel with its Cranberry-Gold-stained glass, organ and its original designed pews and cushions was my favorite. Does Frank Lloyd Wright's design work out for Florida. I think the flat roof may be a problematic area! With heavy Florida thunderous pouring rain, the science building roof are now equipped heavy tooling to ventilate the building. Well, that is good decision as safety come first! You may not be a student of architecture but the lovely Florida Southern College campus is an interesting stop when you are near Lakeland!

Danforth Chapel
Vicki M.

I arrived in Lakeland early for my tour, so I was able to drive around the town and campus. What a lovely town, I drove around the lake and saw many swans. My tour started at the gift shop where I paid for my ticket which I had booked online. There is a 10% discount for booking tours online. I purchased the basic guided tour $30, $27 if booked online in advance. Parking across the street was plentiful on a Sunday afternoon, not sure what it would be like when classes are in session. Even the parking lot was designed by Frank Loyd Wright. The gift shop is very well-maintained and has everything, Frank Loyd Wright, including books, glassware, and postcards. There weee 4 in our tour. Carliegh, our guide was thorough and knowledgeable. She was a wealth of knowledge, and was able to easily answer all our questions. She shared the history of Florida Southern College's relationship with Frank Loyd Wright and the history of the buildings. With the basic tour we were able to enter the Annie Pfeiffer chapel, the Danforth chapel, and the newest FLW building on campus the Usonian house that would have been used as faculty housing. We saw the exterior of all the other Frank Loyd Wright buildings, and with each stop Carliegh shared the history and background of the buildings. The basic tour lasts approximately 90 minutes it includes walking and a few stairs. I recommend a visit to Lakeland, Florida, Southern College, as well as a tour of the Frank Loyd Wright buildings on campus.

He's got his own street.
Faith E.

I love this tour!!! Before moving to the area, I geeked out at the idea that WE were moving to a place that had FLW buildings!! I couldn't believe it, having been a FLW nerd since childhood. So, naturally, we've done the walking tour a few times. No, the buildings and tour don't change much but it's always so nice to just BE inside one of his masterpieces like the Anne Pfeiffer Chapel and the Danforth Chapel, to walk along his own version of orange groves in the Espalanades, marvel at his Water Dome, and even gawk and drool over the Usonian House (which, I've learned has an inside tour for FREE if you're a member of the Polk Museum of Art... which I am!). There's loads more to see, too. And, when you're done, a delightful little gift shop where I want to buy ALL of the things!! I love this tour and even driving by, I get a little geeky. I want to take any and all visitors there, but only one has had an interest (it's hot here and this IS a walking tour), but it was very well received. I can't help it. Frank Lloyd Wright is the man!!

Richard Y.

Very good tour! We did the in depth tour at 1030. Lasted around 2-1/2 hours. The guide was very knowledgeable and pleasant. Quite a bit of walking but we were in and out of buildings so it wasn't too hot. The buildings were architecturally amazing and the campus was beautifully laid out. We especially liked the planetarium which incidentally is the only one of FLW designs that was ever built. It has a whisper wall in it (I'll let you look that one up on the internet). Also, if you stand in the center of the room and speak, it amplifies your voice immediately back to you. Very weird feeling! Price was only $31.50 if you booked it online, which is very reasonable for a tour that long. The gift shop was nice. My wife bought a colored glass tile that Wright often used in his architecture to bring light it. The guide did tell us that he hated artificial light. Would recommend this tour, especially if you'rea a Frank Lloyd Wright fan.

Classroom breezeway
Alexi Y.

We spent a Sat morning touring this hidden treasure. There are 13 Wright structures on the college campus. On the In-depth Tour, we got to see the interiors of 9 of them. It was wonderful learning about his architectural philosophy. Ver educational and inspiring.

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Ask the Community - Frank Lloyd Wright

Is there a cost?

There is a cost if you do the guided tour. However, you can do a free walking tour on your own. The one you pay for includes inside access to several buildings. If you want to do the free tour, I would stop by the visitor center to see if they… Read more

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Review Highlights - Frank Lloyd Wright

She shared the history of Florida Southern College's relationship with Frank Loyd Wright and the history of the buildings.

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Lake Wire - Neighborhood sign and Lawton Chiles Middle School behind it (named for one of Florida's illustrious former governors who had a cool name).

Lake Wire

(1 review)

They call it Lakeland for a reason! Wire Lake has a nice sidewalk path around it and is a short…read moredistance.from downtown. The roads by it are a lil busy in sections but if you like birds, water, palms, historical sites, and Middle Schools, this lake has it all!!! There is a section with various palms marked with labels along the lake by Lawton Chiles Middle School. Arboretum like. Some of the palms haven't survived but there are many to look at for the palm enthusiast. Choose a good one foe your next landscaping project! Juat past the palms is a historical marker for the 10th Cavalry "Buffalo Soldiers". African American soldiers had a very important role in the American Civil War and were stationed here a few decades later before deploying to Cuba to hekp liberate it from Spain. What would the area have looked and felt like back then? Interesting to reflect on. There is some trash in the lake. Styrofoam cups. Plastic bottles. :,( But birds as well. Views of taller downtown buildings in distance. A shiny new Methodist Church building is across the street. Those Methodists seem to be doing very well! Have to respect their methods.. Circling around to the other side there is the old courthouse building and you can cross the Traintracks on New York Avenue to reach downtown and Munn Park. Hurry before the Confederate Memorial statue of Munn is gone! Make sure to stop and smell the roses. Where? How did I get here? And the days go by. Water flowing under ground.. Apparently there is a cycling trail circuit around Lakeland's lakes. Check it out. Someone should.make a Yelp entry for it..

Polk County History Center - Polk County History Museum / Old Polk County Courthouse, Bartow

Polk County History Center

(10 reviews)

Closed on the Monday when I was passing through Bartow but I got to at least enjoy the outside of…read morethis massive structure that used to be the Polk County Courthouse and is now the History Center. The new Justice Center towers above, across the street. There is a historical marker out front that provides some history. It reads, "Polk County was established February 8, 1861 formed from eastern Hillsborough County and western Brevard County and comprised one of two counties created after the state's secession from the union. Polk County was named after James Knox Polk the eleventh president of the United States. Polk served from 1845 to 1849, and was the first president to hold office after Florida achieved statehood. The turbulent 1860's saw Polk's seat of government changed several times. Located first at Mud Lake, the county seat soon moved to Jefferson, a surveyed town site within the present day limits of Bartow. Court and County records were maintained in the home of the county clerk the Reverend Jeremiah Hayman at Six Mile Creek. In 1867 cattleman Jacob Summerlin donated 120 acres of land at Bartow for a town site and seat of county government. Several courthouses have existed at this site, built in 1867, 1884 and 1909." It is marker number F-549 and was erected in 2005 by the Polk County Historical Commission and the Florida Department of State. The building was designed by Edward Columbus Hosford with contributions from Francis J. Kennard in a Classical Revival composition. The style is unmistakable: a symmetrical facade, strong classical massing, and a clock tower rising above the roofline. A series of earlier courthouses stood on this same ground, beginning with an 1867 structure, then an 1884 replacement, and finally the 1909 building that survives today. The facade's classical detailing, the clock tower, and the building's balanced proportions all reflect a period when counties across the South were asserting their permanence through monumental architecture. Inside, the building now houses the Polk County History Center, and the county offers regular architectural tours that highlight the structure's Neo‑Classical features and the stories behind its construction. Just not on Monday. [Review 1612 of 2025 - 2189 in Florida - 25160 overall]

For starters it is FREE to walk through the entire museum. Interesting historical data about a lot…read moreof locations in central Florida. Want to know how Davenport got started as a town? Dinosaur bones in central Florida? What effect did the railroad have on the area as it headed to Tampa? You also have plenty of areas where you can sit down to rest if the walking wears you down. Get ready to spend at least an hour or more to take in the exhibits.

L.B. Brown House

L.B. Brown House

(4 reviews)

An amazing piece of history sitting right there in Bartow, Florida…read more We went as a field trip with our homeschool group. The folks in charge here are so passionate about their work. The tours are informative and thorough. Split into a tour of the outside, downstairs inside and upstairs inside, our tour was led by three different people. All amazing, full of educational information and clearly excited to share their knowledge. Feel free to ask questions! They love to engage in conversation about Mr. LB Brown, his history and the home they've worked so hard to preserve. It's a beautiful place, inside and out. It's a little sad that it's not more popular for school field trips from schools in the area. It's sitting there waiting, with people ready to share! The kids in our group were moved and excited to learn so much. Afterwards, there was lots of conversation about LB Brown! That says something! Very happy to have had the opportunity to check out the LB Brown House!

This is the historic home of African-American pioneer Lawrence Bernard Brown. The house is located…read moreat 470 L.B. Brown Avenue, Bartow, Florida. Mr. Brown was born into slavery in 1856 near Gainesville and he had limited formal education during his lifetime. Despite these setbacks Mr. Brown became a self taught master carpenter. He arrived in Bartow in the late 1880's and he became one of Polk County's most successful businessmen and community leaders. At the time of his death in 1941, Mr. Brown had accumulated a half a million dollars. Lawrence Brown was named "A Great Floridian" by the Florida Department of State. Mr. Brown purchased a plot of land, cleared it and in 1892 he built a 1,700 square foot, two story Victorian. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is believed to be the only home built by a formerly enslaved person to still exist in Florida. The street going past the house was renamed L.B. Brown Ave. in his honor. Mr. Brown and his wife Anna Belle went on to have seven children but only one of them had a child. That child never had children so there are no direct family descendants. Mr. Brown and his wife are buried in Evergreen Cemetery. The house eventually became abandoned and it deteriorated. It was slated for demolition by the city but they were reluctant to destroy it.. In the late 1990's Clifton Lewis, president of Corporation Of Neighborhood Improvement and other Bartow residents began restoration on the home and over two years returned it to it's original grandeur. Every year in mid February, Bartow holds an annual L.B. Brown Festival to celebrate the life of L.B. Brown. You can call for guided tours of the home (863) 944-6136. When the house is closed you are free to tour the exterior and out buildings. Parking is available in the field next to the house.

Munn Park Historic District

Munn Park Historic District

(2 reviews)

As a fan of history and architecture I was delighted to spot the Munn Park Historic District while…read moreexploring downtown Lakeland. The City of Lakeland has seven local historic districts with a combined area of 1.42 square miles. The districts protect more than 1,600 historic buildings and 13 individual landmarks. The Munn Park Historic District was designated a U.S. historic district on November 3, 1997 in Lakeland, Florida. It is named in honor of the city's founder, Louisville, Kentucky businessman Abraham Munn. Munn purchased 80 acres of land that now comprises the Lakeland downtown business district. The Munn Park Historic District is bounded by Bay Street to the north, Lemon Street to the South, Florida Avenue to the west, and extends around Lake Mirror to the East. The grand entrance to the district is the Lake Mirror Promenade designed by noted landscape architect Charles W. Leavitt. This historic district covers the main business area of Lakeland and includes many original buildings dating from as early as 1902. It contains 48 historic buildings and Munn Park which was the first open space in the city. Dedicated in 1884, it is the town square in the city. The Munn Historic District is an almost exclusively commercial district. Today you can enjoy historic buildings, dining, shopping, parks, and public art in this beautiful historic district It is very pedestrian friendly. Fun fact, Lakeland is the largest city in Polk County. Last year more people moved to Polk County than any other county in the United States. The future is looking bright for this stately, historic city.

This is downtown Lakeland. It's lovely!!!…read more There are nice restaurants, a lovely walk around Lake Mirror with some landscape architecture, Hollis Gardens and the newish and fun architecturally inviting Lakeland Brewery as well as the Amtrak Station. Closer in around Munn Park there are great public art works, lots of fun and fine restaurants including Harry's, Black and Brew and Delivicious coffee spots, a Mexican place, Palace Pizza, and Fresco's bar and cafe place next to Palace Pizza. Lots to explore and enjoy. Architecture. Natahan's clothing store. Old school Gaines Geo Jeweler with retro signage. This is the all-American downtown you've been searching for. Art. Food. Architecture. Banks. It's alive. Come take a look and enjoy. Walkable.

Mute Swan Protecting Her Cygnets

Mute Swan Protecting Her Cygnets

(1 review)

In 1926 the City of Lakeland had 20 swans. They became a beloved part of the city and a Swan…read moreDepartment was even created to tend to the birds. By 1954 the last swan passed away leaving Lakeland very sad. Mrs. Robert Pickhardt, a Lakeland native living in England was familiar with the royal flock of swans on the Thames which were descended from the original pair given to Richard, he of the lion heart. She inquired about purchasing a pair for Lakeland and Queen Elizabeth offered to send swans if the city would pay the cost of capture, crating, and shipping at an estimated $300. The city was able to raise the money and the pair of White Mute Swans from England were released on Lake Morton on February 9, 1957. The swans became treasured celebrities and are the mascot and symbol of the city. The swan is in the city's logo, and in the names of businesses, neighborhoods, streets, and events. Mute Swan Protecting Her Cygnets is a 2012, 7,000 pound, 8-foot bronze replica of a smaller piece by Ian G. Brennan, official sculptor to the Queen of England. It was donated to the city by Sandra Trattner and Steve Wolfson. The Wolfson family is descended from pioneer Cyrus Wolfson who got off a train in Lakeland in 1909. After looking at the beautiful scenery around him, he decided to raise his family here. The statue now sits near the spot Cyrus Wolfson stood in 1909 taking in the majestic splendor of Lake Mirror. The Wolfson's were the first Jewish family in Lakeland and in the early 1900's Crus Wolfson opened a famous department store by Munn Park, just a few blocks up from where the statue now stands. Cyrus's son Wilfred "Willy" Wolfson fought during WWII in the Pacific. He and his wife Elaine opened the first pharmacy in Lakeland in 1953. The statue was donated to the city by Sandra Trattner and Steve Wolfson, children of Wil and Elaine Wolfson. The statue was chosen to remind people of the contributions of the Wolfson family to Lakeland, and to thank them for everything the community of Lakeland did for them. Today Mute Swan is the signature artwork in Allen Kryger Park. I loved discovering this beautiful artwork that ties in perfectly to the scenic lake behind it.

Frank Lloyd Wright - tours - Updated May 2026

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