We were up bright and early this morning because that's how we like to start the day. However, we didn't have to "be" anywhere until our 12pm tour of the Wright-remodeled Rookery Building in downtown Chicago.
This 1888 building is considered the oldest standing high-rise building in Chicago. Wright remodeled the lobby area in 1905.
When they were restoring the lobby a few years ago they left one side of this pillar open so you could see the original support of 1888 and how Wright encased it in 1905.
Oh, and the name the Rookery. An interim City Hall existed on this site before 1888 and the pigeons were a nuisance. Someone labeled it a "rookery" and when the new building went up the name stuck.
Oak Park is about 10 miles east of downtown Chicago and that's where Frank Lloyd Wright had his first home built shortly after his first marriage in 1889.
It seems that word got out that Wright was an architect because there were quite a few homes in the neighborhood that Wright designed.
This is typical of the comments I make about Wright houses - "that's ugly, it must be a Wright house".
But he does some great looking ones also
Some of his front door areas are just horrid. But he didn't want you to linger outside. He wanted you to hurry inside.
To be fair, looking at the entire house the entryway isn't THAT bad.
Another Wright house on the block
The outside of this home is my favorite of the Wright designed homes I've seen.
But sometimes I just think he goes overboard.
Here's the other side of the same house.
So we DID tour the inside of Wright's home and we paid the $5 so Karen could take pictures inside.
Just inside the front door
Heading into the children's/music room
Nursery
Of course, he always had very cool looking windows. You can always tell a city house from a country house because the country house will not have this stained glass look. They will be more plain so you see out into the land.
So much artistry in just the lamp alone.
Wright's studio where he worked.
These chains held the sides from falling away and supported the roof. Occasionally, he was a good engineer.
We meandered home via Route 66 during rush hour and stopped at Henry's for a hot dog because "It's a meal in itself!"
Pat always likes to take food photos most every where he goes. An interesting side to a most respected son in law.
ReplyDeleteFood is the common denominator in all of our lives. Everyone can relate to it. The smell of foods can bring back strong memories of the times we shared with friends we have eaten with. For some reason hot dogs on Route 66 may become a reoccurring theme.
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