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This was a wonderful tour of one of Wright's favorite works. We took the interior tour which lasted an hour. Tour sizes are small - about 10 people. Excellent guide that fully explained the history, unique aspects of the design and structure, and gave time for answering any questions in each room. They also have a nice gift shop with a number of items depicting Wright's iconic design.
The Robie House is amazing! One of the finest FLW properties we have toured. It has been lovingly cared for and restored by the foundation. The docent we had was simply incredible! His knowledge of the house, property and area was expert level. There was no question anyone asked that stumped him. He was such a good story teller. The tour here is complete, with access to most rooms except the kitchen. It's a great way to spend an hour if you can get in.
We are HUGE Frank Lloyd Wright fans--so much so that our son is currently getting his master's in architecture (we're practically living the dream). We were so pumped for this tour that we rushed from the train station, pushing our timeline to the edge, and arrived just as it was starting. Our oldest daughter, ever the professional multitasker, quietly stepped back to answer an email. Perfectly normal, right? But just as we were about to immerse ourselves in Wright's genius, Mary, the tour guide, sidled up to her like a caffeine-deprived librarian and said, "There's a cafe around the corner if this is boring you." Let's break this down: we just dropped $130 for five tickets, trekked across town, and we were all on the edge of our seats, ready for a deep dive into the mind of Frank Lloyd Wright. And in a blink, it was crushed by Mary's very questionable hospitality. Mary, you were a walking encyclopedia of knowledge--truly, your architectural facts were on point--but your manners? Let's just say they need a little renovation. We left the tour still big fans of FLW, but now, also major fans of the "cafe around the corner" for next time.
As an architecture student, this house was the first architectural piece i've studied and have been osessed with it ever since. I finally got the chance to come and see it in person and was amazed by the level of detail and work that Mr Wright was able to accomplish. We did the tour with the guide for 24 dollars and it did not disappoint. the guide was super knowledgable and was always open to questions. The guide was more or less a totla of 25 minutes but it did not include the kitchen, or the maids quarters which is a different chunk of the house. All in all, the tour is worth it because he talks to you about so many things you wouldnt know otherwise. This house is a must when you come to chicago and since youre already on Campus of an astonishing university, you can walk around and explore!
Touted as the quintessential example of the Frank Lloyd Wright prairie style home. Cost is 20-75 dollars. 20 for the house tour, 30 for the indoor tour and audio outdoor tour, and a 65 dollar 90 minute tour. The audio tour was fine, but mainly just tells you about six or seven sites on the University of Chicago campus that contrast with FLW's vision. For diehards, fine, but I wouldn't spend the extra 10 bucks next time. The home itself is almost empty, with a few FLW furniture pieces throughout. There are beautiful lines, leaded windows. Much like many other historical spots, this site changed hands many times and was allowed to fall into disrepair and was almost demolished. But the FLW foundation has done a fantastic job or restoring the site. Our docent (I think his name was Phillip) was great. Clear, concise, knowledgeable. The history about the few families who lived there were interesting. I wish we had learned a little more. Overall worthwhile. If you don't have a car with you, Lyft is easy and accessible and decently priced.
My wife, two teenage sons, and I enjoyed the tour in July 2023. We were glad to have reserved tickets in advance as our group reached the maximum of 14 people. The Robie House is a key architectural milestone for Frank Lloyd Wright who completed it in 1909. Lots of pluses. First, Robie House was fully renovated in 2019 - so it looks great from the carpet to the brass fixtures. Second, our volunteer guide was knowledgable about the historical background of the house, which draws from Japanese influences (lack of clutter, open "Zen-like" upper floor, and wood interiors) and Native-American influences (Robie House has a pueblo-like structure that reminded me of Mary Colter's 1909 Hopi House in Grand Canyon NP). Third, you can take pictures inside of all the rooms (which is really nice). However, the tour did have some minuses. Finding street parking was difficult because we had a large SUV. I had to drive to the Campus North parking garage (15 minute walk away). Be sure to arrive 30 minutes before the tour starts if you drive a large car. Also, I was surprised that Frank Lloyd Wright did not formally acknowledge Japanese designers or Native-American designers in his Prairie-style home. But that's a minor quibble. The building is a key milestone in American architecture, which is now preserved on the National Register of Historical Places.
Nice tour and beautiful grounds near campus. We enjoyed the short tour. It was around 20 minutes on train from Chicago.
Stopped here on my never-ending quest to see all the Frank Lloyd Wright houses. There is street parking, and with this being right on the edge of the U of Chi campus, there may be other visitor parking with a walk available. We ubered here soon can't speak to it. Loved the look of the house - and the tour was pretty straightforward. What I liked about this one was they allowed pictures. In other houses we have toured they don't allow photography which is stupid so I appreciated being able to take pictures. The tour took about an hour and even though the guide tried to pop me for getting to close to the wall - which I didn't - I liked the tour. Weather didn't want to cooperate but this would rank in the top half of the locations we have been to.
Amazing architectural gem. It was a bit of an ordeal to get there from the Loop but still doable for a pedestrian. The number six bus dropped me near the museum of science and industry and I walked the rest of the way. Take the tour, they offer a lot of facts and they're open to questions. The greatest thing though is to feel the space and the presence of this masterpiece. Worth a visit. Go.
A really beautiful and interesting Frank Lloyd Wright home. Loved the details especially on the light fixtures. The outdoor self-guided tour was just okay - it really isn't about Robie house and more of a U of C tour - wouldn't do that again.
We had a wonderful tour guide named Chris. We was very knowledgeable and had a lot of insights into the design of the house. You learn a ton while you are there. BOOK AHEAD, showing up won't get you tickets, we saw so many people turned away for tours because tickets were sold out. But it is well worth it.
Fantastic tour of an amazing house. We had a great tour guide, Joan who was a fountain of knowledge of not only the Robie house, but of Frank Lloyd Wright in general. She was patient with our two young kids, one of which asked a lot of questions. She was gracious and informative. We enjoyed seeing one of the Wright houses in Chicago, it didn't seem right to come here without seeing at least one of his buildings.
Absolutely stunning tour of this well-preserved FLW design from 1909. Incredible woodwork, gorgeous lighting, beautiful windows. Also has a great gift shop, and an informative tour guide (John). Well-worth the fee and a great rain-day activity.
5 months ago
Loved the architecture and we had an excellent tour guide. I was disappointed by the lack of furniture as other houses and FLW buildings I have visited have at least been partially staged. The tour is mostly just for the building. I also wish there had also been more story about FLW himself and his involvement in the Robie house design. I understand that much of the house was not preserved as the Robie family lived in the house only for a year and then it moved on to multiple other owners so I can't be too critical, but part of what I love about FLW buildings is that he doesn't just design buildings, but living (or working) spaces. We loved the Laurent house, Taliesin/West and the SE Johnson buildings for that reason. I also would love to see the outdoor areas of the Robie house in better shape, with nicer landscaping to bring it back to where FLW would have imagined it. Hopefully with the foundation's involvement and continued patronage it will be what all FLW fans would wish for soon! Worth a visit for sure! read more
5 months ago
This was a wonderful tour of one of Wright's favorite works. We took the interior tour which lasted an hour. Tour sizes are small - about 10 people. Excellent guide that fully explained the history, unique aspects of the design and structure, and gave time for answering any questions in each room. They also have a nice gift shop with a number of items depicting Wright's iconic design. read more
The Robie House is amazing! One of the finest FLW properties we have toured. It has been lovingly cared for and restored by the foundation. The docent we had was simply incredible! His knowledge of the house, property and area was expert level. There was no question anyone asked that stumped him. He was such a good story teller. The tour here is complete, with access to most rooms except the kitchen. It's a great way to spend an hour if you can get in. read more
2 years ago
We are HUGE Frank Lloyd Wright fans--so much so that our son is currently getting his master's in architecture (we're practically living the dream). We were so pumped for this tour that we rushed from the train station, pushing our timeline to the edge, and arrived just as it was starting. Our oldest daughter, ever the professional multitasker, quietly stepped back to answer an email. Perfectly normal, right? But just as we were about to immerse ourselves in Wright's genius, Mary, the tour guide, sidled up to her like a caffeine-deprived librarian and said, "There's a cafe around the corner if this is boring you." Let's break this down: we just dropped $130 for five tickets, trekked across town, and we were all on the edge of our seats, ready for a deep dive into the mind of Frank Lloyd Wright. And in a blink, it was crushed by Mary's very questionable hospitality. Mary, you were a walking encyclopedia of knowledge--truly, your architectural facts were on point--but your manners? Let's just say they need a little renovation. We left the tour still big fans of FLW, but now, also major fans of the "cafe around the corner" for next time. read more
As an architecture student, this house was the first architectural piece i've studied and have been osessed with it ever since. I finally got the chance to come and see it in person and was amazed by the level of detail and work that Mr Wright was able to accomplish. We did the tour with the guide for 24 dollars and it did not disappoint. the guide was super knowledgable and was always open to questions. The guide was more or less a totla of 25 minutes but it did not include the kitchen, or the maids quarters which is a different chunk of the house. All in all, the tour is worth it because he talks to you about so many things you wouldnt know otherwise. This house is a must when you come to chicago and since youre already on Campus of an astonishing university, you can walk around and explore! read more
Touted as the quintessential example of the Frank Lloyd Wright prairie style home. Cost is 20-75 dollars. 20 for the house tour, 30 for the indoor tour and audio outdoor tour, and a 65 dollar 90 minute tour. The audio tour was fine, but mainly just tells you about six or seven sites on the University of Chicago campus that contrast with FLW's vision. For diehards, fine, but I wouldn't spend the extra 10 bucks next time. The home itself is almost empty, with a few FLW furniture pieces throughout. There are beautiful lines, leaded windows. Much like many other historical spots, this site changed hands many times and was allowed to fall into disrepair and was almost demolished. But the FLW foundation has done a fantastic job or restoring the site. Our docent (I think his name was Phillip) was great. Clear, concise, knowledgeable. The history about the few families who lived there were interesting. I wish we had learned a little more. Overall worthwhile. If you don't have a car with you, Lyft is easy and accessible and decently priced. read more
3 years ago
My wife, two teenage sons, and I enjoyed the tour in July 2023. We were glad to have reserved tickets in advance as our group reached the maximum of 14 people. The Robie House is a key architectural milestone for Frank Lloyd Wright who completed it in 1909. Lots of pluses. First, Robie House was fully renovated in 2019 - so it looks great from the carpet to the brass fixtures. Second, our volunteer guide was knowledgable about the historical background of the house, which draws from Japanese influences (lack of clutter, open "Zen-like" upper floor, and wood interiors) and Native-American influences (Robie House has a pueblo-like structure that reminded me of Mary Colter's 1909 Hopi House in Grand Canyon NP). Third, you can take pictures inside of all the rooms (which is really nice). However, the tour did have some minuses. Finding street parking was difficult because we had a large SUV. I had to drive to the Campus North parking garage (15 minute walk away). Be sure to arrive 30 minutes before the tour starts if you drive a large car. Also, I was surprised that Frank Lloyd Wright did not formally acknowledge Japanese designers or Native-American designers in his Prairie-style home. But that's a minor quibble. The building is a key milestone in American architecture, which is now preserved on the National Register of Historical Places. read more
2 years ago
Nice tour and beautiful grounds near campus. We enjoyed the short tour. It was around 20 minutes on train from Chicago. read more
Stopped here on my never-ending quest to see all the Frank Lloyd Wright houses. There is street parking, and with this being right on the edge of the U of Chi campus, there may be other visitor parking with a walk available. We ubered here soon can't speak to it. Loved the look of the house - and the tour was pretty straightforward. What I liked about this one was they allowed pictures. In other houses we have toured they don't allow photography which is stupid so I appreciated being able to take pictures. The tour took about an hour and even though the guide tried to pop me for getting to close to the wall - which I didn't - I liked the tour. Weather didn't want to cooperate but this would rank in the top half of the locations we have been to. read more
2 years ago
Amazing architectural gem. It was a bit of an ordeal to get there from the Loop but still doable for a pedestrian. The number six bus dropped me near the museum of science and industry and I walked the rest of the way. Take the tour, they offer a lot of facts and they're open to questions. The greatest thing though is to feel the space and the presence of this masterpiece. Worth a visit. Go. read more
A really beautiful and interesting Frank Lloyd Wright home. Loved the details especially on the light fixtures. The outdoor self-guided tour was just okay - it really isn't about Robie house and more of a U of C tour - wouldn't do that again. read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
3 years ago
We had a wonderful tour guide named Chris. We was very knowledgeable and had a lot of insights into the design of the house. You learn a ton while you are there. BOOK AHEAD, showing up won't get you tickets, we saw so many people turned away for tours because tickets were sold out. But it is well worth it. read more
Fantastic tour of an amazing house. We had a great tour guide, Joan who was a fountain of knowledge of not only the Robie house, but of Frank Lloyd Wright in general. She was patient with our two young kids, one of which asked a lot of questions. She was gracious and informative. We enjoyed seeing one of the Wright houses in Chicago, it didn't seem right to come here without seeing at least one of his buildings. read more
7 years ago
4 years ago
Absolutely stunning tour of this well-preserved FLW design from 1909. Incredible woodwork, gorgeous lighting, beautiful windows. Also has a great gift shop, and an informative tour guide (John). Well-worth the fee and a great rain-day activity. read more
Frank Lloyd Wright could have been describing his design of the Robie House when he said: "The architect must be a prophet...a prophet in the true sense of the term...if he can't see at least ten years ahead, don't call him an architect." T'is a beauty, it is, far ahead of its time in its contemporary lines, even if the Robie House has suffered for all the years of wear-and-tear since it was originally built in 1910. Wright's familiar prairie style is epitomized by the bare bones of the impeccable design. I have to admit what's missing for me is what complements the aesthetics of the house - specifically most of Wright's beautifully designed furniture, which made a perfect match to the house, and the natural elements that would have extended upon the design. Because the house has long since lost its uninterrupted view of the Midway Plaisance, its setting is less than ideal now. Imagine Fallingwater without the rushing water and you pretty much have the Robie. The $12 tour is educational and offers interesting tidbits like how the University of Chicago's new Graduate School of Business building across the street mirrors the Robie's continuous windows and long lines. The semi-hidden front door is an interesting touch. So are the famous circle-in-the square planters and lighting fixtures. Access is restricted from the bedrooms upstairs due to fire hazards, but you do get to see the long living room-dining room combination on the second floor. Less interesting is the children's playroom and billiards room in the basement area and the unfinished kitchen adjacent to the dining room. There is the obligatory gift shop in what was part of the expansive garage. If you're into Wright's individualistic architecture, this is a must-stop. Do yourself a favor and stop at the Smart Museum four blocks away to see the dining room set and fireplace facade that was originally in the house. Others may want to consider a trip out to Oak Park to get a fuller picture of his style in Wright's home and studio. read more
I liked the tour of the interior. I did the audio self-guided tour of the block as well. It talked a bit about the college campus buildings over to the quad as well as the business school across the street (which mimics the design of Robie). I'd highly recommend both tours. It's a bit of an Uber ride outside of the Loop but definitely worth it. Masks were required inside on the tour. Photos are allowed too unlike in some FLW homes. read more
3 years ago
Came here for a tour on Easter Sunday. If you're a fan of architecture (especially Frank Lloyd Wright), you have to check out the Robie House. Found in the middle of the campus of Uni of Chicago, you're surrounded by beautiful architecture. The Robie House, however, sticks out due to its unique Japanese inspired design. There are 45 minute tours every hour for a reasonable price (all proceeds go into maintaining the house along with restoration). Our tour guide (a volunteer) was a little boring, but he most definitely knew his stuff. If you're in Chicago, spend an afternoon in Hyde Park with a visit to the Robie House. Good for: Sightseeing read more
7 years ago
9 years ago
9 years ago
I went on the Chicago Architecture Foundation's Highlights By Bus Tour and we stopped by the Frederick C. Robie House in Hyde Park for a Tour. I am not sure if we had a shortened version of the tour or not as we did not have access to the entire house. The Robie House is a Prairie Style Home that is now owned by the University of Chicago. The house was built in 1910 by famous American Architect Frank Lloyd Wright for the Robie Family ...the entrance to the home is on the side of the home and upon entry into the home I noticed that the ceiling was close to my head and I am 5'2 and when questioning whether Mr. Wright was of short stature...our guide Mr.. Fitzgerald stated, "Mr. Wright uses a manipulation of space" in which the lower level or entry-way has a unusually low ceiling....and the home opens up on the second floor using wide open spaces, hand crafted furniture, and an abundance of sunlight which radiates throughout each space. I love the details..even the original door knob in the kitchen!!! Truly a must see whether you are a native or tourist! read more
6 years ago
A masterpiece of the great American Architect Frank Lloyd Wright. As an architect I have studied this house and many other houses built by Frank Lloyd Wright and many other architects like mies van der Rohe for example. A house rich in history and teory. If you are in Chicago and you like the Architecture you should visit this house. read more
Came here on Open House (the one weekend a year where a bunch of Chicago buildings open up to the public for few tours). The line was long but moved quickly which unfortunately meant that they shuffled you through the house so you can't spend much time in one place. Not too worry, I don't think the house is that impressive to the point where you'd need to spend hours inside. Note every first Monday of the month they offer free tours to UChicago students and staff which would be worth it! Tours are normally $18. I guess I'm not super into the prairie house style architecture but it was interesting learning about the roots of frank Lloyd wright. read more
15 years ago
Compared to the other FLW properties I've been to there is simply something lacking at the Robie House - the tour is too short, the experience not at all immersive, and the tourguide not nearly as knowledgable of the property or the architect himself. Combine the above with a tour that spends ~20 minutes outside and ~25 minutes inside for $15 because half the place is being rennovated (of course, if you choose the more expensive tour you can see those areas too) and I just can't say it was worth the hype - not when the home and studio is so close and the Rookery is free. read more
15 years ago
Coming to the Robie house for the tour as a hard-core Wright aficionado, I thought I knew everything there was about it from all the books I've read and the pictures that I've studied. Boy, was I wrong... the tour showed me much more. The 1-hr tour started off with the front exterior of the house, where the tour guide told about the house's history: its site and surrounding neighborhood prior to construction; the original client's background, their aspiration for their dream home, and their interactions with Wright during the design process; as well as the subsequent owners of the house. He then continued to discuss the architectural design aspects of the house: its eccentricities, Wright's intentions for the viewers' interactions and perspectives with the house, how it optimized its location in the neighborhood. Some of the design info was obvious (the wide roof overhangs); however, I learned there were details that were quite subtle (pipeless gutter drains that allowed water to cascade during storms). The tour proceeded into the house through the front door - which is at the BACK of the house, the guide explained the design intention for this! - and entered into the foyer. On the first floor, we visited the billiard room and children's playroom. We then proceeded up the stairway onto the second floor, where we visited the living room, dining room, breakfast nook, kitchen, and a small bedroom. While we were in each room, the guide told about the history of how the room was used, highlighted peculiar details of the house's design (aesthetics, structural, lighting), and pointed out how the occupants interacted with the house's architecture and furnishings. We then exited the house along a stairway to the courtyard - where a few more architectural and historical details about the exterior were pointed out, the tour group asked the guide final questions, and were left at the entrance of the gift shop to spend money to fund the continuing restoration of the house. After the tour, many of us simply wandered onto the elevated patio outside the living room to marvel the architectural brilliance of Wright's early masterpiece. Unfortunately, the house is missing many of its original furniture; thus, we couldn't fully appreciate Wright's original interior. The restoration of the house is on-going and one day I may visit again to see it as it was intended. In addition, the tour did not venture onto the third level (where most of the bedrooms were) since the city's fire code prevented it; although, they said one day this restriction may be rescinded. Nevertheless, I still learned a lot about about this peculiar house and was quite dazzled to see this place firsthand. All the book photos I've seen of this house could not re-create the experience of interacting with this architectural masterpiece. read more
The venerable Robie House is one of the masterworks of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Located in Hyde Park next to the University of Chicago campus, the Robie House is a prime example of Wright's maturing Prairie Style. It is a very elongated, low-lying building that emphasizes its horizontality even further with the use of noticeably thin and long red bricks. read more
The Robie House was the first Frank Lloyd Wright home that my wife and I toured. Our 45 minute tour led by Chris was great. She clearly articulated the prairie style design that made Wright's famous and helped us picture what it would be like to live in Chicago during the early 1900's. The home featured numerous "horizontal lines" on wood panels and beautiful windows. We learned that in the living and dining area, Wright purposely designed the roof, elevation of windows to allow the right or less amount of sunlight in a given season to allow rooms to be warmed in the winter and cooled in the summer. Adult tickets are $17 but we purchased a Groupon deal via Goldstar events that lowered the price to $12. Some guests purchased a "photo pass" that allowed you to take pictures inside. We didn't have a pass but still snapped a few pics. :) If you're a fan of Wright, architecture or Chicago history, make your way to Hyde Park and visit the Robie House. read more
Wow. Frank Lloyd Wright and his horizontal lines. If you are a fan of his work, you must come here. It's about a half hour train ride from the heart of Chicago, and it is located on University of Chicago's beautiful campus (you should walk around the campus too). The tour is about 50mins-1hr. You can buy a photo pass for $5 (otherwise you can only take exterior photos). With the photo pass and fees, it cost $22 per person. Our tour guide was great..I wish I remembered his name! My bf is the architectural expert, but when I left, I felt like I really "got" the house, design, and layout. We equally enjoyed the tour. It's very cultural, not sure how much I would've gotten out of it as a kid, but as an adult it was a great experience. FLW loved this house. Out of all of the homes and places he built, this is one of the only ones he actively protested getting knocked down. Twice! He clearly felt an intimate connection with this design. read more
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