falling waters frank lloyd wright tour

Fallingwater

Top ways to experience Fallingwater and nearby attractions

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Fallingwater - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater

Voted the most important building of the 20th century in a poll conducted by the American Institute of Architects, this masterpiece was entrusted to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy by Edgar Kaufmann jr. in October 1963. Fallingwater was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2019. Open to the public for house tours, Fallingwater is the only remaining Frank Lloyd Wright house with its setting, original furnishings and artwork intact.

Fallingwater offers a one-hour Guided Architectural tour (includes the main floor of the house, the terraces and the guest house), specialty tours and private guided or self-guided exterior tours. Specialty tours include a two-hour in-depth tour, collections tour, brunch tour and sunset tour. Tours are offered daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. except Wednesdays, mid March through Thanksgiving weekend. Fallingwater is open on Saturdays and Sundays in December, the week between Christmas and New Year's Day, weather permitting. Self-guided exterior Winter Walks are available daily beginning Nov. 30. Advance ticket purchase is essential for all tours. During periods of high visitation exact tour times cannot be guaranteed.

Fallingwater offers a variety of house tours, which includes a one-hour guided house tour, two-hour in-depth tour, brunch tour and sunset tour. Visitors may also purchase a self-guided exterior tour to experience the immediate site surrounding the house. Advance ticket purchase is essential for all tours. During periods of high visitation exact tour times cannot be guaranteed.

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Fallingwater House

• Occupancy : 250 - 250
• Area : 5,330 square feet

House & Visitors' Center

House and meadow.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater Route 381 South, 1491 Mill Run Rd. Mill Run, Pennsylvania 15464

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Fallingwater

Fallingwater is Wright’s crowning achievement in organic architecture and the American Institute of Architects’ “best all-time work of American architecture.” Its owners, Edgar and Liliane Kaufmann, were a prominent Pittsburgh couple, reputed for their distinctive sense of style and taste.

Edgar J. Kaufmann and his wife Liliane

Route 381 South

National Historic Landmark. Open to the public with tours available.

fallingwater.org

They met Wright in 1934, when their son, Edgar Jr. spent six months in the Taliesin Fellowship. Knowing that Wright shared their love of nature, they commissioned him to build a summer home for the family’s weekend retreat in Bear Run, PA. Wright recognized that his clients wanted something that would celebrate the landscape of their favorite country hideaway in an innovative way. Determined to build over the stream that punctuated the property, Wright remarked that rather than simply look out at it, he wanted the Kaufmanns “to live with the waterfall…as an integral part of [their] lives.”

In Fallingwater, Wright anchored a series of reinforced concrete “trays” to the natural rock. Cantilevered terraces of local sandstone blend harmoniously with the rock formations, appearing to float above the stream below. The first floor entry, living room and dining room merge to create one continuous space, while a hatch door in the living room opens to a suspended stairway that descends to the stream below. Glass walls further open the rooms to the surrounding landscape. In 1938, Wright designed additional guest quarters set into the hillside directly above the main house and linked by a covered walkway. Fallingwater remained the family’s beloved weekend home for 26 years. In 1963 the Kaufmanns donated the property to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, together with 1,543 acres of surrounding land. It opened its door as a museum in 1964 and has since hosted more than five million visitors.

“Great architecture, like any great art, ultimately takes you somewhere that words cannot take you at all. Fallingwater does that the way Chartres Cathedral does that. There’s some experience that gets you in your gut and you just feel it, and you can’t quite even say it. My whole life is dealing with architecture and words, and at the end of the day, there is something that I can’t entirely say when it comes to what Fallingwater feels like.” — Paul Goldberger, Pulitzer Prize-winning architectural critic

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See more of Frank Lloyd Wright’s work

The Whirling Arrow

News and updates from the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation

Frank Lloyd Wright + Arizona

Frank Lloyd Wright’s connection to Arizona, the location of his personal winter home Taliesin West, runs deep, with his architectural influence seen all over the Valley. Here, PhD student David R. Richardson gives a brief overview of several of Wright’s most notable projects in the Grand Canyon state.

Celebrating World Art Day April 15, 2024

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Laurel Highlands Blog

Your place for insider news, events & activities, a guide to visiting fallingwater.

Friday, March 11, 2022 2:00 PM

The Laurel Highlands region is home to four houses that were designed by architectural genius Frank Lloyd Wright . The most well-known house, Fallingwater , is a bucket list item for many and lives up to the hype. Fallingwater is inscribed as one of 24  UNESCO World Heritage sites  in the U.S. and is listed alongside attractions including the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal.

First things first: if you're interested in touring Fallingwater, advance ticket purchase is necessary. To keep tours organized and optimal, you must call ahead at 724-329-8501 or go online to reserve your spot. Tours run from March 11 through November 26, 2023 except Wednesdays, Easter Sunday morning and Thanksgiving.

If you don't know which tour to take, here is a quick rundown of the most common tours and a list of specialty tours:

Guided architectural tour .

On this hour-long tour, you will be led by a knowledgeable, friendly Fallingwater tour guide. This option is most common for first-time visitors. You will walk through all of the main rooms in the house, step out onto the terraces and get to take a look at the guest house. Along the way, you will learn about the history as well as both small and big details of the house. Photography is permitted on the first floor of the house. At the end of your tour, you are free to roam to the "iconic spot" to get a picture of the famous view. Guided house tours are $35 per person and available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, except Wednesdays, Easter Sunday morning and Thanksgiving.

In-Depth Guided Tour

This in-depth tour is very similar to the guided house tour, but is an hour and a half instead of one hour. During the in-depth tour, your expert educator guide will share extensive details about the history and architectural design of the house, the landscape, and the art that will help you to better understand the harmony of the landscape and house. Another bonus is that you will get exclusive access to spaces not shown on the guided architectural tour! It includes the self-guided exterior experience and provides full access to the grounds.

Specialty Tours

New for this year is the Guided Grounds Walking Tour, which offers exterior access led by a Fallingwater educator that provides insights into the Bear Run landscape that inspired Wright.

If you're bringing children, Fallingwater offers private one-hour Family Field Trip tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays where children younger than 6 are admitted free. While this $28 tour is exterior-only, it's still a fun yet educational outing for the whole family.

The Forest-to-Table dinner experience provides after-hours interior access and a seasonal culinary experience on April 21, 22; July 14, 15; and Oct. 6,7 for $425 per person.

Focus tours feature exclusive access to the house interior and grounds with a meal on the pottery terrace for $1,800.

Grounds Pass

This is a perfect option if you're on a tight schedule, interior tours are booked, or you just want to explore the beautiful grounds around the home. If you need suggestions for walking routes or places to explore, download Fallingwater's visitor guide and print a copy to bring on your adventure. 

The Day of Your Fallingwater Tour

Once you've picked your preferred tour and time and purchased your ticket, make sure you arrive about a half hour before your tour time. Not because there will be traffic or you'll get lost, but because there is so much to do before your tour. After parking in the lot, walk to the visitors center and check in at the desk in the center and take note of your group number. 

While you're waiting to hear your group number to be called over the loudspeaker, explore the Visitors Center. Fun fact: Construction of the Visitors Center was overseen by Edgar Kaufmann Jr.'s life partner, Paul Mayén. It was the Kaufmanns' intention to let the public enjoy the house, so what you see and experience at Fallingwater today was influenced by the family.

The Fallingwater Café serves breakfast items, coffee, snacks and drinks as well as delicious, healthy lunch entrées including wraps, salads and sandwiches that are all made in-house with locally sourced ingredients. Fallingwater Café also offers bagged lunches and group lunches in the Meadow if you give them a 48-hour heads up! 

Take a stroll through the Speyer Gallery, featuring two special exhibitions in 2022. "Sacred Spaces: Frank Lloyd Wright and Andrew Pielage,” features photographs captured by Pielage over his decade-long project to document Wright’s work. His work juxtaposes traditional places of worship with iconic Wright houses, museums and civic spaces. a collection of historic photos, materials and film footage of Fallingwater will be on display from April 15 through September 30. The second exhibition, “Frank Lloyd Wright’s Southwestern Pennsylvania: The Fallingwater Projects,” runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 31 and will feature unbuilt projects Wright designed for the Kaufmann family at Fallingwater, including a chapel, a gate house, and a farmer’s cottage. These unrealized designs will be brought to life as virtual animations and will be exhibited alongside Wright’s architectural drawings.

Be sure to browse the Museum Store for a unique Fallingwater or Frank Lloyd Wright souvenir and other treasures. Lastly, take advantage of the restrooms located at the Visitors Center before your tour starts. There are no public restrooms once you leave the Visitors Center. Once your group number is called, you will gather on the ramp leading to the house and you're off!

A few quick tips:

• If you're visiting during July, August or October, be sure to buy your tickets well in advance. Peak season books fast!
• Allow an extra 15 minutes for driving time if you're not used to rural roads. You can find driving directions and a map on Fallingwater's website .
• Please keep in mind that pets are not allowed on the grounds or at the Visitors Center, but service animals are welcome to join you on your tour.
• Make sure you snag a photo or selfie at the famous spot! You know the one. Just follow the arrows on the signage that point toward "View."
• Help the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy keep Fallingwater beautiful and clean. Please take your trash with you.
• To prevent anything from being bumped into and knocked over, only small wallets and handheld cameras are allowed inside the house.
• Dress for the weather and always bring a light jacket. Not only can western Pennsylvania weather change in a matter of minutes, but it's also usually about 10 degrees colder on the mountain.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes. There is a quarter-mile walk from the visitors center to the house, and there is a lot of exploring to do on the grounds after your tour. 

COVID Policy

At this time, masking is optional but always welcome. Fallingwater encourages visitors to check the COVID-19 Community Level for Fayette County, Pennsylvania, on the  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website  for additional recommendations. For more information on Fallingwater’s health and safety guidelines regarding COVID-19, visit  Fallingwater.org/visit/covid-19-policies/ .

Keep in mind that three other Frank Lloyd Wright houses are located near Fallingwater and are worth the detour. Frank Lloyd Wright at  Polymath Park , an architectural park that is home to Frank Lloyd Wright's Mäntylä and Duncan House, is only 23 miles away and Frank Lloyd Wright's  Kentuck Knob is less than seven miles down the road from Fallingwater. Even though they were all designed by Wright, they have unique features and different origin stories. Why tour only one when you can see all four!? 

In addition to Frank Lloyd Wright homes, the Laurel Highlands offers outdoor recreation, family fun , expansive wineries , historic sites , and more. Start planning your Laurel Highlands getaway today!

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You’re in the Wright Place!

Frank Lloyd Wright Site Tours

Immerse yourself in the visionary genius of Frank Lloyd Wright by exploring his iconic structures. From sprawling estates like the Dana-Thomas House to cozy cottages, Wright’s designs continue to inspire! Many of his creations offer public tours, creating a unique opportunity to step back in time and experience Wright’s architectural philosophy firsthand.

Whether you’re a lifelong architecture enthusiast or simply curious about this American design master, a Frank Lloyd Wright house tour is an unforgettable experience. With locations across the country, there’s a Wright design waiting to be discovered.

Featured Tours

Bachman-Wilson House (1956)

Bernard Schwartz House (1939)

Bradley House (1900)

Cedar Rock – Lowell Walter House (1945)

Charnley-Persky House (1892)

City National Bank & Hotel (1909)

Dana-Thomas House (1902)

Fabyan Villa

Fallingwater

Florida Southern College (1938-1954)

Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio (1889)

George Stockman House (1908)

(This page may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure about affiliate links here .)

Additional Resources, Links & Products

Wright Sites: A Guide to Frank Lloyd Wright Public Places (Amazon book)

• Frank Lloyd Wright’s Public Buildings by Thomas A. Heinz (Amazon book)

Auldbrass Plantation

O’Connor House (1916)

McCartney House (1949)

Don Erickson Estate

For your home.

Yvonne Carpenter-Ross

Flw enthusiast & webmaster.

Architecture and home design have always fascinated me. As a young girl I enjoyed drawing floor plans, rearranging my parent’s furniture and playing with Lincoln Logs and Legos.  My passion has always been the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. Since I have been old enough to drive a car, I have visited Frank Lloyd Wright homes in the Chicagoland area and attended the Wright Plus house walks. Now, as co-owners of Northern Sky Designs , my husband & I are able to combine our website design skills and FLW travels to bring you this website! Enjoy!

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Help Fallingwater Live On

Visitor Information

• Fallingwater Tours
• Wright at Polymath Park Tours
• Group Tours
• Fallingwater Fireside
• Thanks for Attending the Fallingwater Soirée
• Fayette County Days
• Travel Advisories
• Service Animals at Fallingwater
• Exhibitions in the Speyer Gallery
• Installations at Fallingwater
• Dining: The Fallingwater Café
• Accessibility at Fallingwater
• The Barn at Fallingwater

Attention Visitors: Preservation activities this spring will focus on the Guest House at Fallingwater. Experience preservation in action during your visit! Guided tours and grounds access will not be affected. Repairs will result in some visual impacts to the exterior of the Guest House. Learn more

We’re pleased to welcome you to Fallingwater where you’ll discover the beauty of the landscape that was a respite for the Kaufmann family and explore the house’s intimate relationship with nature. With your help, we look forward to providing an enjoyable and safe experience.

Planning Your Visit

• Gate open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
• Closed Wednesdays
• Book reservations online or call 724-329-8501.
• All tickets are subject to an additional 6% processing fee which is nonrefundable.
• All purchases are subject to a 48-hour cancellation and exchange policy. Tour tickets may be cancelled or exchanged up to 48 hours prior to the date of the tour. The 6% processing fee is not refundable. Tickets are nonrefundable within 48 hours of the date of the tour.
• Please plan your visit a minimum of 4-6 weeks in advance if you’d like to visit during our peak seasons in July, August or October.
• Allow at least 15 additional minutes for travel.  The roads around Fallingwater are rural, two-lane roads. Some of these roads are currently under construction.  Please review these maps and directions to Fallingwater .
• Families with children younger than 6  are encouraged to experience Fallingwater through  Family Field Trips , Guided Grounds Walking Tours  and  Grounds Passes .
• Download our visitor guide in advance  to help with wayfinding throughout the site.
• Because Fallingwater is located in a rural area, there is  no public transportation to Fallingwater . You will need a car to travel to Fallingwater from your point of arrival or destination. Ride sharing services, such as  Uber and Lyft, are currently not available in the area surrounding Fallingwater .
• In planning your entire visit, please allow approximately two hours on site to enjoy at a relaxed pace.
• Expect considerable walking on all guided tours. We recommend visitors wear closed toed shoes with a rubber non-slip sole that provides both comfort and support. There is a ¼ mile walk from the Visitor Center to the house on uneven gravel surfaces. We offer a shuttle service to and from the house for visitors with mobility challenges.
• Allow sufficient time ahead of your scheduled tour for check-in, parking and arrival at the Visitor Center. We recommend up to 20 minutes to complete arrival and check-in. To create the best experience possible for you and the other visitors on your tour, group sizes are limited and tours begin at regularly spaced intervals. The actual start of your tour may vary past the time you booked to accommodate tour spacing. Multiple groups will be started during each time slot and upon arrival you will be placed in the first available tour group for the time slot you booked.
• Please inquire in advance about accessibility options.  Fallingwater’s site includes more than a mile of sloping gravel paths, which may be challenging for visitors with mobility limitations. Some exterior parts of the house are only accessible by stairs. Certain models of wheelchairs and strollers may have difficulty moving on gravel.  An all-terrain wheelchair is available by advance reservation.
• In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Fallingwater welcomes trained service animals.  Please review our service animal guidelines  before visiting Fallingwater.
• Please be aware of  our hours of operation.
• No weapons, firearms or hazardous materials are permitted on Fallingwater property.
• Fallingwater is a smoke-free environment.

Fallingwater Visitor Guide

Download a copy of our visitor guide in advance of your visit. The guide includes a site map and information about available amenities.

Download the Guide

Photography and Videography

Fallingwater visitors are welcome — and encouraged! — to take personal-use photos and video to remember and share their visit. For the safety of the sensitive landscape, staff, and visitors, the following guidelines must be observed.

Visitors may:

• Take photos and video for private, noncommercial use  outside on the grounds .
• Take photos  at the direction of the tour guide for private, noncommercial use inside the house.
• Use handheld cameras, smartphones, and tablets.
• Use stabilization devices (tripods, monopods) or selfie sticks when outside.
• Post images and video from their visit on personal social media sites. (Tag @VisitFallingwater for a chance to be featured on Fallingwater’s social media channels!)
• Book a wedding at the Barn at Fallingwater and have a couple’s photo session on the Fallingwater site.  

Visitors may NOT:

• Bring bulky camera bags or equipment. All photography equipment must adhere to Fallingwater’s bag (not exceeding 10x10x3 inches or 25x25x8cm) policy.
• Use stabilization devices (tripods, monopods) or selfie sticks inside the house or indoor exhibits.
• Sell or publish the images.
• Use images of Fallingwater to promote any product or service.
• Enter restricted areas cordoned off with stanchions or other barriers.
• Disrupt other visitors or block walkways when taking photographs.
• Use Fallingwater as a setting or backdrop for formal photography sessions, including but not limited to engagement and graduation photos. Commercial photographers may not photograph clients at Fallingwater.
• Use drones on the property. This prohibition extends to any drone launched or operated from Fallingwater property, as well as drones launched from private property outside of Fallingwater but flying over Fallingwater boundaries and/or above Fallingwater facilities.

Fallingwater reserves the right to restrict photography at any time in any location. Fallingwater staff have the authority to approach and verify the intent of photography to ensure compliance with the photography policy. Failure to adhere to these guidelines or staff direction may result in being asked to cease all photography or leave the premises.

Fallingwater visitors may be included in photography or videography during their time on site. Visitors grant the right for their images to be used in promotional materials and in all formats of media.  All images shall be the property of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.   

On the Day of Your Visit

• Allow enough time on-site to experience  our Visitor Center where you will find our Museum Store and Café. We recommend that you plan to stay with us for at least two hours.
• Service animals are welcome to join you on the tour and on the grounds around the house. Pets are not permitted in  Fallingwater, at the Visitor Center or on the grounds around the house.  Although we suggest you don’t leave pets in your car, please use caution if you choose to do so. Our parking lot has limited shade and we cannot guarantee a shaded parking spot. When walking your pets in the parking lot areas, please be sure to use a leash and be courteous of other visitors by cleaning up after your pet.
• Note that there are no public restrooms inside Fallingwater.  Please use the restrooms at our Visitor Center prior to beginning your tour.
• Come prepared for the weather.  Currently all experiences are conducted outdoors, and mountain temperatures are generally about 10 degrees colder than those in Pittsburgh. Please bring appropriate clothing and umbrellas.
• Summer tours are more comfortable in the cooler, morning hours.
• Only small wallets and handheld cameras are permitted on tour.  For the protection of Fallingwater and its collections, handbags larger than 10x10x3 inches (25x25x8cm), backpacks of any size, camera bags, tripods and other cumbersome items are prohibited inside Fallingwater and must be left in vehicles or placed in lockers at the Visitor Center prior to your tour.
• Outside food is not permitted at Fallingwater’s dining facilities. If you would like to bring your own food, outdoor tables are available at the Barn at Fallingwater located on Route 381 approximately ¼ mile north of the main entrance to Fallingwater.
• Fallingwater is a carry-in/carry-out facility.  We ask that you take your trash with you when you leave.
• We understand that many Fallingwater visitors will have accessibility concerns.  We are constantly working to make the visit comfortable for everyone. If you haven’t visited us before, view our  Accessibility at Fallingwater page  for a few tips to help you make your visit more enjoyable.
• All photography, filming, recording on mobile devices, painting and sketching is permitted for personal use only  and cannot be sold, published or posted on a website without permission of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. Original works may be exhibited, but reproductions or prints may not be produced. This includes, but is not limited to all photographs, films, mobile recordings, paintings, sketches and drawings generated during your visit.
• The  use of drones is not permitted  on the property. This prohibition extends to any drone launched or operated from Fallingwater property, as well as drones launched from private property outside of Fallingwater but flying over Fallingwater boundaries and/or above Fallingwater facilities.

Families with Young Children

• Families with children younger than 6 are invited to reserve a Guided Grounds Walking Tour, Family Field Trip or self-guided Grounds Passes.
• F amilies may also choose to hike  the grounds or nearby  Bear Run Nature Reserve  while waiting for the rest of their party to complete their house tour.

Make a Day of it Here at Bear Run

• Bring along comfortable hiking shoes , and enjoy some of our 20 miles of outstanding trails at nearby Bear Run Nature Reserve.
• Enjoy the beautiful native rhododendrons which typically bloom with a white to light pink flower from late June through early-mid July.
• The Laurel Highlands are brimming with exciting adventures, all within a 25-mile radius of Fallingwater.  Since you’re headed to Fallingwater visit the  Laurel Highlands website  for even more information.
• A variety of lodging facilities are located within a 40-mile radius of Fallingwater .  You may wish to stay with one of our  Lodging Partners in Education , many of which offer packages that include Fallingwater, Wright at Polymath Park and Kentuck Knob.  The  Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau  offers additional information about lodging and other nearby sites to visit.

Privacy Overview

Wright in the Laurel Highlands

Experience Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture at multiple sites in Pennsylvania's Laurel Highlands.

Immerse Yourself in Wright in the Laurel Highlands

About 90 minutes east of downtown pittsburgh in the allegheny mountains sits a magnificent 3,000-square-mile expanse of ridges and valleys called the laurel highlands. rich in natural heritage, history and beauty, the region attracts millions of visitors each year to enjoy its many offerings of outdoor recreation, parks, resorts, arts and cultural amenities..

About 90 minutes east of downtown Pittsburgh in the Allegheny Mountains sits a magnificent 3,000-square-mile expanse of ridges and valleys called the Laurel Highlands. Rich in natural heritage, history and beauty, the region attracts millions of visitors each year to enjoy its many offerings of outdoor recreation, parks, resorts, arts and cultural amenities. Among the cultural amenities are three separate locations – Fallingwater, Kentuck Knob and Polymath Park – that display Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic architecture in four unique houses. To fully appreciate Wright’s visionary designs and understand the true artistic and cultural importance of his legacy, you’re encouraged to experience all three locations over two or more days.

Among the cultural amenities are three separate locations – Fallingwater, Kentuck Knob and Polymath Park – that display Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic architecture in four unique houses. To fully appreciate Wright’s visionary designs and understand the true artistic and cultural importance of his legacy, you’re encouraged to experience all three locations over two or more days. Each location is open to the public for tours that explore Wright’s philosophy of organic architecture, which promotes harmony between people and nature through design. The immersive and authentic experience of touring these places allows you to explore the fascinating stories of the families that once lived in these remarkable houses while also learning how Wright revolutionized architecture by taking inspiration from nature.

Fallingwater

Fallingwater is open to the public as a museum operated by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, the nonprofit organization to which Edgar Kaufmann jr. donated the property in 1963. To tour Fallingwater, advance ticket purchase is strongly encouraged due to space limitations. Website: Fallingwater.org Address: 1491 Mill Run Road, Mill Run, PA 15464 Customer Service/Main Phone Number: 724-329-8501

Fallingwater, one of the world’s best-known private residences, was designed by Wright in 1935 for the family of Pittsburgh department store owner Edgar J. Kaufmann. Recognized for its astonishing architecture and natural setting Fallingwater was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019, along with seven other Wright-designed buildings across the U.S. A series of three horizontal cantilevered floors, stacked one upon the other, appear to soar with no support, outward over a 30-foot waterfall below. Fallingwater masterfully integrates reinforced concrete, steel and glass – along with the natural materials of wood and native stone – to create a unique building with daring cantilevered construction which stretched the limits of design and technology of the period. Wright’s philosophy of organic architecture is exemplified in Fallingwater, which promotes harmony between people and nature through design. Visitors can shop, dine and learn more at the on site Visitors Center. Fallingwater is now open to the public as a museum operated by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, the nonprofit organization to which Edgar Kaufmann jr. donated the property in 1963. To tour Fallingwater, advance ticket purchase is strongly encouraged due to space limitations.

Website: Fallingwater.org Address: 1491 Mill Run Road, Mill Run, PA 15464 Customer Service/Main Phone Number: 724-329-8501

Polymath Park is located in Acme, Pa., which is approximately 22 miles from Fallingwater. With its peaceful integration into nature, Polymath Park’s immersive experience awaits you with its Wright Overnight lodging and cozy fine dining in the award-winning Tree Tops Restaurant. To book tours, lodging and dining reservations, or for more information, visit the website. Website: Polymathpark.com Address: 187 Evergreen Lane, Acme, Pa., 15610 Customer Service/Main Phone Number: 877-833-7829

Wright at Polymath Park is a collection of two Wright-designed houses and two houses from Peter Berndtson, a Wright apprentice. The Wright-designed houses, Mäntylä and the Duncan House, were saved from demolition and relocated to the property from other states. These homes provide examples of Wright’s Usonian-style architecture and design techniques. Polymath Park is located in Acme, Pa., which is approximately 22 miles from Fallingwater. With its peaceful integration into nature, Polymath Park’s immersive experience awaits you with its Wright Overnight lodging and cozy fine dining in the award-winning Tree Tops Restaurant. To book tours, lodging and dining reservations, or for more information, visit the website.

Website: Polymathpark.com Address: 187 Evergreen Lane, Acme, Pa., 15610 Customer Service/Main Phone Number: 877-833-7829

Kentuck Knob

Kentuck Knob’s construction materials of native sandstone and tidewater red cypress blend naturally with the surroundings. A must-see sculpture garden featuring more than 35 major works enhances the visitor’s experience, and a former greenhouse now serves as the visitor center with a gift shop and a café. Website: KentuckKnob.com Address: 723 Kentuck Road, Chalk Hill, Pa., 15421 Customer Service/Main Phone Number: 724-329-1901

Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the last decade of his career, Kentuck Knob is nestled high in the western Pennsylvania mountains 7 miles south of Fallingwater. The hexagonal Usonian home is constructed of native sandstone, tidewater cypress and copper, blending naturally with its surroundings in true Wrightian harmony. Kentuck Knob’s construction materials of native sandstone and tidewater red cypress blend naturally with the surroundings. A must-see sculpture garden featuring more than 35 major works enhances the visitor’s experience, and a former greenhouse now serves as the visitor center with a gift shop and a café.

Website: KentuckKnob.com Address: 723 Kentuck Road, Chalk Hill, Pa., 15421 Customer Service/Main Phone Number: 724-329-1901

• Purchase Fallingwater Tickets
• Purchase Kentuck Knob Tickets
• Purchase Polymath Park Tickets

• Visit the Laurel Highlands
• Learn about the Laurel Highlands
• Stay in the Laurel Highlands
• Map of the Wright Sites in the Laurel Highlands

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Taliesin: Everything You Need to Know About Frank Lloyd Wright’s Iconic Design

By Rachel Davies

Pennsylvania’s Fallingwater and the Guggenheim Museum in New York may be the architect’s most well-known structures, but the argument could be made that Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin was the most important design in his own life. Considering the architect’s roots in the area from his birth, the Taliesin estate functions as something of a crash course for architectural enthusiasts hoping to understand how Frank Lloyd Wright lived and worked.

“What is really captivating about our property, in one way, is [Wright’s] own personal history,” says Ryan Hewson, the director of preservation at Taliesin. “We have basically his whole life because he was here as a boy, then we have him as a young draftsman working on Unity Chapel, then as a younger architect working on buildings for his aunts, then right up to when he would definitely consider himself to be the greatest architect working in America, and through his mature age. His whole life and his whole career is sort of CliffsNoted here.”

Spanning over 150 years, from when Frank Lloyd Wright’s family first purchased in the area to the present, the property’s history resists brief definition. Read on for an introduction to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Wisconsin estate.

What is Taliesin?

Located near Spring Green, Wisconsin, about an hour from Madison, Taliesin is the former home and studio of celebrated architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The name Taliesin refers to both the 800-acre estate, which includes many structures, and the house itself, which is one of these structures. The estate was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1974 and in 2019 it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, the property is open for tours from April to November and hosts a number of workshops and camps.

Taliesin’s buildings

A common misconception about the Taliesin estate is that it’s limited to the primary residence alone. In fact, there are many different Wright-designed buildings spread across Taliesin’s 800 acres that still stand today. In addition to these structures, the Taliesin estate includes the Unity Chapel designed in 1886 by architect Joseph Lyman Silsbee, of which 18-year-old Wright designed the interior, according to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Monona Terrace by David V. Mollenhoff.

• Romeo & Juliet Windmill, commissioned in 1896
• Tan-y-Deri, commissioned in 1907
• Taliesin, the house itself, built in 1911
• Midway Barn, built in 1949
• Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center, built after Wright’s death in 1967
• The Hillside Home School II, built in 1901
• The Hillside Drafting Studio, built in 1932
• The Hillside Theater, but in 1952
• The Fellowship Dining Hall, built in 1955

History of Taliesin

Wright set about building the titular structure at Taliesin in 1911, but the area’s significance to his family predates that by nearly 50 years. In 1863, four years before Wright was born, his maternal grandparents Richard & Mallie Lloyd Jones purchased a parcel of land that makes up a portion of Taliesin’s 800 acres today. Wright visited the property in his childhood. “As a boy I had learned to know the ground plan of the region in every line and feature,” Wright states in his autobiography . “I still feel myself as much a part of it as the trees and the birds and bees are, and the red barns.”

Prior to building his own home, Wright had already built several structures located on what is now the Taliesin estate. The first of the buildings, Hillside Home School I, was commissioned in 1887 by his aunts Ellen and Jane Lloyd Jones, but has since been demolished. Other buildings that predate Wright’s Taliesin structure include the Romeo & Juliet Windmill, which was built at the request of his aunts in 1896, the Hillside Home School II, also for his aunts, in 1901, and Tan-y-Deri, a home for his sister, all of which still stand today.

In 1909, Wright and his new partner Mamah Borthwick (both of them were married when their relationship started) left their respective spouses to be together. Borthwick had an immense impact on Wright’s life, and the two spent time in Europe (specifically Berlin, Florence, and Fiesole) before figuring out how they might live together in the US. By 1911, he had convinced his mother, Anna Lloyd Jones, to purchase a plot of land near his sister’s Wisconsin home so that he might build a house for him and Borthwick, and this is when Wright’s own Taliesin home takes shape.

Tragedy struck at Taliesin in 1914, when a servant, Julian Carlton, set the house on fire and murdered seven people, including Borthwick and her two children, according to Meryle Secrest’s Frank Lloyd Wright: A Biography . Wright was not at the house at the time of the attack and fire. After recovering from the shock of this event, Wright rebuilt Taliesin and named this version Taliesin II. Taliesin weathered a second fire in 1925, caused by a lightning strike, according to the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation . When Wright rebuilt the home this time, he named it Taliesin III, and this is the version of the home that still stands today.

In 1932, Frank Lloyd Wright established the Taliesin Fellowship, a place where apprentices could “learn by doing.” Apprentices lived and studied at Taliesin, helping with construction of the estate’s buildings, farming, and eventually, working with Wright on commissions. “Hillside started as the Hillside Home School that he designed for his aunts in the early 1900s and then expanded with the Fellowship to really become the center [of the operation]. That’s where the drafting studio is,” says Hewson, who studied at Taliesin himself.

In 1937, Wright built Taliesin West in Scottsdale as a winter home and studio. He and his apprentices spent winter months working from Arizona from this time onward. The Taliesin Fellowship went through many iterations in its 88 years, before leaving Taliesin and Taliesin West and becoming the School of Architecture in 2020 .

Architecture of Taliesin

Both in form and its materials, the design of the Taliesin home was inspired by the surrounding Wisconsin landscape, in true Prairie Style fashion. “The roof lines of Taliesin West are very sharp and angular, whereas here, like the surrounding low rolling hills, these roof lines are much lower and much softer,” says Hewson. “The building sort of mimics the softness of the hills around it and tries to nestle in and around it.”

Wright describes the structure’s echoing of its surroundings in his autobiography. “The lines of the hills were the lines of the roofs, the slopes of the hills their slopes, the plastered surfaces of the light wood-walls, set back into shade beneath broad eaves, were like the flat stretches of sand in the river below and the same in color, for that is where the material that covered them came from,” he writes.

Taliesin was constantly evolving in Wright’s lifetime and the spirit of experimentation that Wright approached the building with is a central element of its design. Maintaining this element of Taliesin’s design is an important part of the preservation team’s work. “The crux of everything is to never give Taliesin a perfection it never knew,” says Hewson. “That is not its truth. Its truth is experimentation.”

Frequently Asked Questions

“Taliesin was the name of a Welsh poet, a druid-bard who sang to Wales the glories of fine art,” Wright writes in his autobiography. “Since all my relatives had Welsh names for their places, why not Taliesin for mine?” As he goes on to explain in the book, the word translates to “shining brow,” which represents where the house was sited.

By Sarah Archer

By David Nash

By Stefanie Waldek

When Wright was deciding which part of the massive property to build the home on, he gravitated toward a specific hill that he remembered from his boyhood. Instead of placing the house on the crown of the hill, he decided to site it on the brow of the hill, “so that the house and hill can live together,” Hewson says.

The prominence of the Taliesin estate in Frank Lloyd Wright’s life from his childhood through the rest of his life makes Taliesin an important site in American architectural history. “It’s the place where a lot of the designs that are well known throughout the world emanated from,” says Hewson.

Taliesin is owned and maintained by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Taliesin Preservation is responsible for the programming that occurs at the site.

By Mayer Rus

By Katherine McLaughlin

KJZZ's The Show

Listen live weekdays at 9 a.m.

The mystical origins of Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West

• taliesin-show-sd-20240426.mp3

The Show’s Sam Dingman recently toured Taliesin West, the desert home and design studio of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. 

Well, it’s a beautiful, serene place. And in talking to the folks that work there, there was this unmistakable tone of reverence — a sort of quasi-spiritual energy in terms of how they talk about Frank and his work," Sam Dingman said. "And as I learned when I looked into this, that’s because the work he did at Taliesin West had somewhat mystical origins."

Strange things do happen in the desert.

Full interview

DINGMAN:  Awakening is possible only for those who seek it and want it, for those who are ready to struggle with themselves and work on themselves for a very long time and very persistently in order to attain it.

These are the words of the spiritual teacher George Gurdjieff — proponent of a mystical practice known as “The Work.” One of his most ardent acolytes was a dancer from Montenegro named Olgivanna Hinzenberg. Olgivanna spent years as one of the earliest students at Gurdjieff’s Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man, performing sacred dances and listening to Gurdjieff’s lectures. In the '30s, Olgivanna married renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and a few years into their marriage, she had an idea: what if Frank had a school of his own?

TOUR GUIDE LAURA:  Everyone go ahead and face the desert. Take that desert in. Much of what you’re seeing right now looks very similar as it did to Frank Lloyd Wright when he first arrived in 1937.

DINGMAN:  About 30 minutes northeast of Phoenix, nestled in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains, lies Taliesen West: a collection of low-slung, earth-tone buildings built directly into the craggy cliffs. This was the second home of Frank and Olgivanna — or, as everyone who works here calls them: “Mr. and Mrs. Wright.”

I took a tour of Taliesen West a few weeks ago. These days, the buildings contain expensive gift shops and plush offices. But back in the thirties, this is where Mr. and Mrs. Wright created what they called The Fellowship. The Fellowship was an architectural apprenticeship program, and it cost as much as tuition at Harvard. But Mr. Wright’s apprentices didn’t come here to wander the carpeted hallways of a traditional university. 

LAURA: Before we begin the tour, I just want to set the scene: where did you all sleep last night? In a bed? With a couple of walls, and maybe a roof over your head? Did you have coffee this morning?

DINGMAN:  Beyond the elegant walls of Taliesen West, the desert stretches out in all directions. Pathways tumble abruptly into jagged washes, and green creosote bushes dot the otherwise brown expanse of rocks and dust. 

LAURA:  So once you all find stable ground, face the desert, and actually close your eyes. I want you all to picture yourselves having moved away from the home that you grew up in, or your comfortable, cozy undergraduate dorm. And you’ve come out here and study under Frank Lloyd Wright, and live out here in the desert. The most notable part about being an apprentice was building your own shelter.

DINGMAN:  As our tour guide, Laura, leads us deeper into the vast canyons, primitive structures rise abruptly from the sun-baked earth. Laura explains that when The Fellowship first got here, they slept in sheep tents. But over time, Mr. Wright let them build their own shelters. And there were rules.

LAURA:  So Mr. Wright and the apprentices were always inspired by the nature when they were constructing and designing. They looked at the flora and the fauna, and they saw the ways in which those two things adapted to the environment. In fact Mr. Wright, he said that the saguaro, which is that cactus over there, was the greatest example of a skyscraper ever to be built. So I want you to all to picture yourselves as day 1 apprentices, and he’s just said the following quote to you: the great benefit to you all in being out here under these circumstances is to just get into it. Learn. Understand and appreciate what you see around you.  

DINGMAN: We approach the spartan dwellings — most of which look more like sculpture than shelter. There’s a two-story set of worn-out wood platforms, fused together with iron beams. A hundred yards away, a squat glass cube with a fire pit dug roughly into the rocks. 

LAURA:  So this shelter behind me is called Skybox. And Chelsea Clark’s design is a beam and post design, which resembles unfinished construction.

DINGMAN:  With a few exceptions, the shelters don’t have walls or doors.

LAURA:  Are any of you afraid of mice? So some of you are afraid of mice — well, so was one of our apprentices. And every night, he kept waking up with a packrat in front of his face. And so when it came time for this apprentice to build his shelter, he built something that completely blocked out nature. So this was brought to the senior board of apprentices, and the senior board of apprentices approved his design. Is this really what you want to build? This goes against the Taliesen Tenets of Design. 

DINGMAN:  If you’re a Frank Lloyd Wright fan, maybe you’ve heard the phrase “organic architecture.” This was a big part of Wright’s design philosophy — the idea that buildings should follow the patterns and shapes of the world around them. At Fallingwater, the home he designed for a department store magnate in Pennsylvania, stone walls mimic the rocks in the river the house sits along. New York City’s Guggenheim museum is built around a swirling ramp that forces the visitor’s perspective upward, echoing the experience of walking amongst the skyscrapers of Manhattan. Both buildings have their origins in the Fellowship, where apprentices worked on many of Wright’s most famous projects. 

NICKI: STEWART: It’s probably the greatest way to encapsulate learning by doing.

DINGMAN:  Nicki Stewart is the Vice President of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation — she works in one of those offices in the main building, which Taliesen workers call “the historic core.” As I was setting up my microphones, I noticed that Nicki had a couple of aphorisms scrawled on a white board.

Can you read those to me?

STEWART: I would love to. The first one says “misery is optional.”

DINGMAN:  I asked Nicki about that apprentice who wanted to build a shelter that would keep rats out of his bed. 

STEWART:  The design that he had created sealed off the whole world. And he took it to the approvers — they told him, great, you’re approved. But do you really want to be that cut off from this part of your experience? And he went and thought about it and realized that he was in a moment that he couldn’t get back? He wasn't going to be an apprentice forever. What if he didn’t cut himself off from it? 

DINGMAN:  The Fellowship, Nicki explains, wasn’t about cutting yourself off. It was about opening yourself up. 

STEWART:  So it wasn’t about becoming an architect — it was about being a part of this way of thinking that things should be seated in their location, nature inspire all the choices we make. 

DINGMAN:  Mr. Wright had a vision for a world built on harmony. Not unlike Mrs. Wright’s guru. 

STEWART:  In her time studying with George Gurdjieff, Olgivanna really understood and practiced a kind of work ethic that was about what Frank Lloyd Wright would’ve called “adding tired on tired.” You keep working as hard as you can until you get there. 

DINGMAN:  So where is it, this place you’re trying to get? Gurdjieff believed that humanity had fallen into a kind of collective stupor. The goal of what he called The Work — capital T, capital W — was to awaken. As he put it: “When you come to the realization that the totality of yourself, what you have treasured, what your friends have admired, is totally useless, you will suffer. But we say that it is only from this point that there is any hope for your becoming. We are so incredibly small.

LAURA:  So looking over here, we’ve come across a shelter that is a little difficult to look at. This is a shelter that was destroyed last year in one of our summer monsoons. I want you all to imagine yourselves as the apprentice who has designed the shelter. And you have just come out here into the desert, and you see your shelter in this condition.

DINGMAN:  We all stood silently in the sun, staring at a small cottage with a caved-in roof. A few loose bits of shingling flapped in the breeze, and it occurred to me that if it weren’t for these ruins, there would be nothing for the wind to blow against. Almost a hundred years later, Mr. Wright’s legacy ripples in the desert air. After a few moments, Laura spoke again.

LAURA:  Wood weakens. Rust corrodes. And the wind howls.

More stories from KJZZ

• Leading Frank Lloyd Wright photographer Andrew Pielage showcases 'Sacred Spaces' at Taliesin West
• Al Beadle house is just the latest. Why doesn't Phoenix protect its history?

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Frank Lloyd Wright’s Masterpieces Illustrated in Travel Posters

Displayed at taliesin west in scottsdale, arizona..

Spoke Art and The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation present ‘Frank Lloyd Wright: Timeless,’ a traveling pop-up art exhibition showcasing new illustrations and limited edition posters inspired by the renowned American architect.

Featuring artists from across the globe, the exhibition draws inspiration from 1930s-era Works Progress Administration (WPA) travel posters. Each artist selected a specific Wright landmark, including The Morris House, a conceptual masterpiece never built but envisioned to cling to the cliffs of the Southern California Coast.

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Moscow Metro Tour

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Description

Moscow metro private tours.

• 2-hour tour $87:  10 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with hotel pick-up and drop-off
• 3-hour tour $137:  20 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with Russian lunch in beautifully-decorated Metro Diner + hotel pick-up and drop off. 
• Metro pass is included in the price of both tours.

Highlight of Metro Tour

• Visit 10 must-see stations of Moscow metro on 2-hr tour and 20 Metro stations on 3-hr tour, including grand Komsomolskaya station with its distinctive Baroque décor, aristocratic Mayakovskaya station with Soviet mosaics, legendary Revolution Square station with 72 bronze sculptures and more!
• Explore Museum of Moscow Metro and learn a ton of technical and historical facts;
• Listen to the secrets about the Metro-2, a secret line supposedly used by the government and KGB;
• Experience a selection of most striking features of Moscow Metro hidden from most tourists and even locals;
• Discover the underground treasure of Russian Soviet past – from mosaics to bronzes, paintings, marble arches, stained glass and even paleontological elements;
• Learn fun stories and myths about Coffee Ring, Zodiac signs of Moscow Metro and more;
• Admire Soviet-era architecture of pre- and post- World War II perious;
• Enjoy panoramic views of Sparrow Hills from Luzhniki Metro Bridge – MetroMost, the only station of Moscow Metro located over water and the highest station above ground level;
• If lucky, catch a unique «Aquarelle Train» – a wheeled picture gallery, brightly painted with images of peony, chrysanthemums, daisies, sunflowers and each car unit is unique;
• Become an expert at navigating the legendary Moscow Metro system;
• Have fun time with a very friendly local;
• + Atmospheric Metro lunch in Moscow’s the only Metro Diner (included in a 3-hr tour)

Hotel Pick-up

Metro stations:.

Komsomolskaya

Novoslobodskaya

Prospekt Mira

Belorusskaya

Mayakovskaya

Novokuznetskaya

Revolution Square

Sparrow Hills

+ for 3-hour tour

Victory Park

Slavic Boulevard

Vystavochnaya

Dostoevskaya

Elektrozavodskaya

Partizanskaya

Museum of Moscow Metro

• Drop-off  at your hotel, Novodevichy Convent, Sparrow Hills or any place you wish
• + Russian lunch  in Metro Diner with artistic metro-style interior for 3-hour tour

Fun facts from our Moscow Metro Tours:

From the very first days of its existence, the Moscow Metro was the object of civil defense, used as a bomb shelter, and designed as a defense for a possible attack on the Soviet Union.

At a depth of 50 to 120 meters lies the second, the coded system of Metro-2 of Moscow subway, which is equipped with everything you need, from food storage to the nuclear button.

According to some sources, the total length of Metro-2 reaches over 150 kilometers.

The Museum was opened on Sportivnaya metro station on November 6, 1967. It features the most interesting models of trains and stations.

Coffee Ring

The first scheme of Moscow Metro looked like a bunch of separate lines. Listen to a myth about Joseph Stalin and the main brown line of Moscow Metro.

Zodiac Metro

According to some astrologers, each of the 12 stops of the Moscow Ring Line corresponds to a particular sign of the zodiac and divides the city into astrological sector.

Astrologers believe that being in a particular zadiac sector of Moscow for a long time, you attract certain energy and events into your life.

Paleontological finds 

Red marble walls of some of the Metro stations hide in themselves petrified inhabitants of ancient seas. Try and find some!

• Every day each car in  Moscow metro passes  more than 600 km, which is the distance from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
• Moscow subway system is the  5th in the intensity  of use (after the subways of Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai).
• The interval in the movement of trains in rush hour is  90 seconds .

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the walking tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

Write your review

• Preplanned tours
• Daytrips out of Moscow
• Themed tours
• Customized tours
• St. Petersburg

Moscow Metro 2019

Will it be easy to find my way in the Moscow Metro? It is a question many visitors ask themselves before hitting the streets of the Russian capital. As metro is the main means of transport in Moscow – fast, reliable and safe – having some skills in using it will help make your visit more successful and smooth. On top of this, it is the most beautiful metro in the world !

. There are over 220 stations and 15 lines in the Moscow Metro. It is open from 6 am to 1 am. Trains come very frequently: during the rush hour you won't wait for more than 90 seconds! Distances between stations are quite long – 1,5 to 2 or even 3 kilometers. Metro runs inside the city borders only. To get to the airport you will need to take an onground train - Aeroexpress.

RATES AND TICKETS

Paper ticket A fee is fixed and does not depend on how far you go. There are tickets for a number of trips: 1, 2 or 60 trips; or for a number of days: 1, 3 days or a month. Your trips are recorded on a paper ticket. Ifyou buy a ticket for several trips you can share it with your traveling partner passing it from one to the other at the turnstile.

On every station there is cashier and machines (you can switch it to English). Cards and cash are accepted. 1 trip - 55 RUB 2 trips - 110 RUB

Tickets for 60 trips and day passes are available only at the cashier's.

60 rides - 1900 RUB

1 day - 230 RUB 3 days - 438 RUB 30 days - 2170 RUB.

The cheapest way to travel is buying Troyka card . It is a plastic card you can top up for any amount at the machine or at the ticket office. With it every trip costs 38 RUB in the metro and 21 RUB in a bus. You can get the card in any ticket office. Be prepared to leave a deposit of 50 RUB. You can get it back returning the card to the cashier.

SamsungPay, ApplePay and PayPass cards.

One turnstile at every station accept PayPass and payments with phones. It has a sticker with the logos and located next to the security's cabin.

GETTING ORIENTED

At the platfrom you will see one of these signs.

It indicates the line you are at now (line 6), shows the direction train run and the final stations. Numbers below there are of those lines you can change from this line.

In trains, stations are announced in Russian and English. In newer trains there are also visual indication of there you are on the line.

To change lines look for these signs. This one shows the way to line 2.

There are also signs on the platfrom. They will help you to havigate yourself. (To the lines 3 and 5 in this case). 

Claudia Looi

Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

By Claudia Looi 2 Comments

Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

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