Past Watch Site

Among the hills and rocky outcroppings of Wisconsin’s Driftless Area, Taliesin stands as the crucible for one of America’s most influential architects. Frank Lloyd Wright began construction of this sprawling residential and studio complex in 1911 and continuously reinvented its interior spaces, courtyards, and terraces until his death in 1959. Serving as a laboratory of design and innovation for Wright and his apprentices, Taliesin has been described as an autobiography, experimental sketchbook, and manifesto in one. It is regarded as one of Wright’s most significant and personally meaningful expressions of organic architecture evolving from the Prairie style.

Situated on the crown of a hill, Taliesin appears in harmony with its rugged landscape. But the forces of nature—including two landslides in the past decade—have put the foundation and the overall complex at risk. While the experimental nature of its design, fabric, and structure embody the significance of Taliesin, they also compound these conservation challenges. To address these conditions, the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and Taliesin Preservation, Inc., seek to undertake research on Taliesin’s structural systems. Watch listing aims to rouse national and international awareness about the condition of Taliesin and its counterpart, Taliesin West, and underscore the importance of stewarding Wright’s legacy.