Dana-Thomas House offers specialty tours exploring Wright's architectural style

[November 02, 2013]  SPRINGFIELD -- Frank Lloyd Wright fans, or fans of amazing architecture in general, will love a new specialty tour being offered for a limited time at the Dana-Thomas House State Historic Site.

The "Wright Concepts" tour features longtime Dana-Thomas Home docent Larry Betz explaining Wright's principles of architectural design and taking visitors through the unique home. Built between 1902 and 1904, it is perhaps the best-preserved of Wright's Prairie-style homes, with more than 400 pieces of specially made art glass and original furnishings.

"When Susan Lawrence Dana approached Wright about an addition to her home, she told him she was not concerned about the cost. So Wright was able to take the commission and use it to experiment with ideas he had been nurturing to advance his Prairie design concepts," Betz said.

Three of the two-hour tours are planned:

• Nov. 8, 10 a.m.

• Dec. 13, 10 a.m.

• Jan. 10, 10 a.m.

The suggested donation for the tours is $20.

The house, at Fourth and Lawrence streets in Springfield, is operated by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. It is open Wednesday through Sunday for public tours.

For more information, visit www.dana-thomas.org.

[Text from file received from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency]