Why Frank Lloyd Wright’s Westcott House is a Must-See Ohio Attraction
One of only two public Wright sites in Ohio, the Westcott House is an unparalleled cultural destination. Discover five top reasons why this restored Wright gem is a must-visit Springfield tourist attraction.
1. The Westcott House dates back more than 100 years.
Designed in 1906 and completed in 1908, the Westcott House is notable among Frank Lloyd Wright fans as being one of the famed architect’s early works. Wright was commissioned by Burton and Orpha Westcott, a couple that perfectly fit the profile of a typical Wright client – progressive, daring and independent. This made the Westcott House Wright’s first commission in the state. Among Wright’s early projects, the Westcott House keeps prestigious company; other important Wright works of the time include the Frederick C. Robie House in Chicago (1908) and the Avery Coonley House in Riverside, Illinois (1907).
2. It’s Wright’s only Prairie Style house in Ohio.
The Westcott House is a singularly impressive showpiece of Wright’s now-famous Prairie Style — a good reason that the Westcott House is considered one of the best tourist attractions in Ohio. The Prairie Style is an architectural design Wright developed over nearly two decades to reflect the long, low horizontal Midwest prairie. The style features low-pitched roofs, long rows of casement windows, an abundance of horizontal lines, deep overhangs and rectilinear profiles. In addition to these attributes, the Westcott House also exhibits a unique pergola connecting a detached garage to the main home, a Prairie Style element found in only a few other Wright-designed houses.
After Burton Westcott died in the late 1920s, the home was re-sold twice. Then, in the 1940s, major alterations to the interior spaces destroyed the distinct architectural hallmarks of Wright’s design. The open floor plan was closed off to form a five-unit apartment building, the garage was converted to a residence, and the intricate encaustic walls were painted over. The Westcott House fell into disrepair over the decades until 2000 when the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy purchased the decaying property. Then, in 2001, the newly formed Westcott House Foundation — a dedicated group of Springfield preservationists and benefactors — took ownership.
3. The Westcott House was nearly lost to history.
And it took nearly five years to complete. From 2000 to 2005, the Westcott House Foundation tapped more than 400 architects, engineers, craftspeople and volunteers, along with two leading Ohio architectural firms, to assist with the $6 million restoration. No detail was overlooked: refinishing the exterior wood trim, reinstalling art glass in the skylights, adding custom clay roof tiles that matched the originals, stabilizing the entire structure and even landscaping the grounds as Wright first envisioned.
4. Restoration required the efforts of hundreds of people.
Visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Westcott House
5. Docent-led tours bring to life Wright’s extraordinary vision.
The Westcott House opened as a museum in October 2005 and today welcomes visitors to join hour-long tours to see the magnificent Wright masterpiece in all its glory. Knowledgeable guides share behind-the-scenes insights, point out Wright’s remarkable architectural details such as original hardware and hand-decorated walls, and offer history about the home’s legacy, the Westcott family and Wright himself.
85 South Greenmount Ave.
Springfield, OH 45505
