Located in the mountains of Southwestern Pennsylvania, in Mill Run, PA, Fallingwater is about 70 miles southeast of Pittsburgh and about 175 miles from Reading, PA. This three-hour trip would make the perfect weekend getaway this summer!
Designed in 1935 by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Fallingwater was a weekend home for the Edgar J. Kaufmann family, owners of Pittsburgh’s largest department store. Wright was renowned for his architectural style that emphasized harmony with nature. Fallingwater is a testament to his philosophy of organic architecture. The house’s integration with its natural surroundings and its innovative design makes it one of Wright’s most celebrated works. Only two colors were used throughout the 9,300-square-foot house. For the concrete a light ochre and for the steel Wright’s signature “Cherokee red.”
Used by the family until 1963, the home was entrusted to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and opened to the public in 1964. The house is surrounded by Bear Run Nature Reserve, 5,100 acres of natural land.
For those eager to experience Fallingwater firsthand, the 2024 ticket price for a guided architectural tour, offering access to both the house interior and the grounds is $36 per person. However, fallingwater.org offers options like grounds-only tours or family field trip packages.
Palo Magazine
Photo Credit by Christopher Little and Courtesy of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy