Summary of Frank Lloyd Wright Houses in Minnesota
- Overview of Frank Lloyd Wright’s influence in Minnesota.
- Details on notable houses designed by Wright.
- Private residences and their unique architectural features.
Architect Frank Lloyd Wright was born in Wisconsin and designed numerous houses in the Upper Midwest. Therefore, Minnesota boasts several remarkable buildings conceived by this iconic architect. If you’re interested in exploring Frank Lloyd Wright houses in Minneapolis and the Twin Cities, there are four notable residences in that region. Moreover, this article presents additional Frank Lloyd Wright houses throughout Minnesota.
Frank Lloyd Wright Houses in Minnesota
Unless otherwise specified, all of these homes are privately owned and are not open for tours.
- Austin: The S.P. Elam Residence, 309 21st Street SW, Austin: Completed in 1951, the S.P. Elam Residence is one of the largest Usonian-style homes designed by Wright. The exterior showcases an upswept roof, emblematic of Frank Lloyd Wright’s designs. Unfortunately, the Elams encountered difficulties with Wright during construction; although he designed most of the house, they completed the kitchen independently. Photographs, floor plans, and historical information about the Elam house are available from The Steiner Agency.
- Cloquet: The R. W. Lindholm House, Highway 33, Cloquet: This small home located in Cloquet, near Duluth, is known as Mantyla to its owners. The residence sits on several acres and was listed for sale in 2009 with an asking price of $975,000.
- Cloquet: Lindholm Service Station, Highway 33 & 45, Cloquet: Built in 1957, this service station stands at the intersection of State Highway 33 and State Highway 45 in downtown Cloquet. It represents Wright’s vision of a modern urban landscape. Notably, the station operates today while also featuring a second-floor observation room that provides visitors with views of the St. Louis River. Article and photographs of the Lindholm Service Station are available from Roadside America.
- Rochester: The Bulbulian House, 1229 Skyline Drive, Rochester: Constructed in 1947 for Dr. Arthur Bulbulian, a facial reconstruction specialist at the Mayo Clinic, this house exhibits an angular Usonian design optimized to harness sunlight throughout the day. It has been recently restored and remains a private residence.
- Rochester: The Thomas E. Keys House, 1217 Skyline Drive, Rochester: Built in 1950, this home is situated close to the Bulbulian House. The Thomas Keys Residence showcases Wright’s Usonian design, incorporating earth berms against some walls. For additional visuals and information, explore the Thomas Keys Residence entry and photographs on Wikipedia.
- Rochester: The James MacBean House, 1532 Woodland Drive, Rochester: Frank Lloyd Wright conceptualized three distinct models of prefabricated houses, with the Prefab #2 being a square, three-bedroom design. Only two homes were actually constructed from this model in 1957: the James MacBean House in Rochester and the Walter Rudin House in Madison, WI. For more insights, visit the James McBean Residence entry and photographs on Wikipedia.
- Saint Joseph: Dr. Edward and Laura Jane LaFond House, 29710 Kipper Road, St. Joseph: Commissioned in 1956, this residence near St. Cloud was completed in 1960, posthumously refined after Wright’s passing.
