Fallingwater grounds reopen for tours; house remains closed to visitors
Fallingwater reopened Saturday for scheduled and self-guided tours of the grounds.
Indoor tours of the famous house balanced over a waterfall are still not available due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Also opening on Saturday are the museum store, cafe and art gallery. Free Wi-Fi is available at the Barn at Fallingwater.
Frank Lloyd Wright designed the modern masterpiece in 1935 for department store owner Edgar J. Kaufmann. Built in Mill Run, Fayette County, the house was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2019.
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, which owns and operates Fallingwater, strongly encourages purchasing tickets in advance, as tours are scheduled and limited in size. For staff and visitor safety, the staff continues to observe COVID-19 protocols.
On outdoor tours, visitors learn about Wright’s architecture and design philosophy while discovering the beauty of the natural landscape. Tours are offered daily — except on Wednesdays — from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In December, tours are reduced to weekends, except Dec. 26-31, when they are held daily.
A variety of specialty tours are also offered, including an outdoor family educational experience on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning March 9. Called Family Field Trip, the tours provide kids of all ages with learning activities in observation and sketching.
On April 1, a new exhibition opens in the visitor center’s Speyer Gallery. “Joseph Urban’s Designs for Kaufmann’s” will examine art deco designs created in 1928 by the Viennese-born architect for Kaufmann’s department store in Downtown Pittsburgh. The show features historic photographs and reproductions of Urban’s original sketches, which were commissioned by store owner Edgar Kaufmann Sr. The exhibition will be on view through Dec. 31.
The Fallingwater Institute offers on-site residencies and virtual workshops, classes and residencies for high school and college students, teachers, design professionals and other professional learners. Participants gain a deeper knowledge of Fallingwater and Wright’s ideas of organic architecture by exploring sustainable design practices through hands-on exercises and immersive experiences.
Fallingwater Institute programs are held at various times during the year and advance registration is required. More information is available at Fallingwater.org or by contacting program manager Marie Woof at mwoof@paconserve.org.
Starting in May, Fallingwater will offer Focus, Brunch and Sunset tours that include a seasonal meal prepared by Chef Tom Shuttlesworth.
Fallingwater is about a 90minute drive from Downtown Pittsburgh. For more information or to purchase tour tickets, go to Fallingwater. org/ ExperienceFallingwater or call 724-329-8501.