Taking a Walk With Frank - The 37th Annual Housewalk

Tickets are now available for the internationally acclaimed Wright Plus 2011 housewalk, showcasing rare interior tours of private homes created by Frank Lloyd Wright and his contemporaries in historic Oak Park, Illinois.

Wright Plus 2011, Saturday, May 21, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., features magnificent private residences in Oak Park. Guests enjoy interpretations based on in-depth research of the homes' history and architecture, including discussions of the original occupants' lifestyles. This exceptional housewalk, which attracts visitors from around the world, offers an intimate look at a selection of beautiful homes lining the historic streets of Oak Park, a community west of downtown Chicago, which boasts the world's largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed residences.

The Wright Plus housewalk features eight private homes, three of which were designed by Wright, and three Wright-designed public buildings. The Peter A. Beachy House (1906) and (pictured above) Arthur B. Heurtley House (1902) are Wright designs from the early Prairie period when Wright was seeking to develop a distinctly American architecture. The Harrison P. Young House (1895), remodeled by Wright, is a blend of his emerging Prairie signature with Tudor Revival elements. The three public buildings designed by Wright - the Unity Temple (pictured), the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio, and the Robie House - are designated National Historic Landmarks.

Also featured on Wright Plus are three homes designed by architect E. E. Roberts: The Joseph Dunlop House II (1897), the A. J. Redmond House (1900) and the Americus B. Melville II House (1916). The homes exhibit Queen Anne style, Victorian and Classical features infused with Prairie School influences. The Walter Gale House II (1905) by Handy and Cady is a classic Colonial Revival with newly discovered history and the W.H. Yorke House (1886) is an elegant historic home merging Victorian detail with modern uses. Architect research is ongoing for this residence. Both residences are being shown on the housewalk for the first time.

Tickets are available at GoWright.org and by calling 877-848-3559. Tickets are $85 for Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust members and $100 for non-members.

(Note: be sure to see this week's Little Journey's column on Oak Park.)