Issue 464 May 14th 2025

The Headlines

Uncertain Federal Support For Preservation Impacts Wright Buildings

Frank Lloyd Wright building preservationists are already feeling the effects of sweeping personnel and funding changes from the federal government.

As reported in the Wednesday Journal, some of the funding opportunities and staffing support from key government agencies that historic Wright sites across the country have come to rely on for help have disappeared. As the current administration has drastically reshaped federal departments with layoffs, building closures and program cuts, the future of historic preservation efforts supported by agencies like the National Park Service, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute for Museum and Library Services is uncertain.

The administration has cut more than $1 billion from the park service’s budget alone, according to the National Parks Preservation Association. Wright, whose design career lasted more than seven decades before his death,

is considered one of the world’s most influential architects as he pioneered the prairie style of architecture. He designed more than 1,100 buildings, many of which are open to the public as museums today.

His legacy is felt stronger nowhere more than Oak Park, where his home and studio sits near the intersection of Chicago Avenue and Forest Avenue and functions as one of the village’s most popular attractions alongside the Wright-designed Unity Temple on Lake Street. There are nearly 30 Wright-designed structures in Oak Park, according to the Explore Oak Park and Beyond tourism bureau.

Gordon is executive director of the Wright Conservancy, an organization dedicated to supporting the preservation of Wright-designed buildings around the world. Gordon said many of the recent improvements made to iconic Wright buildings that are open to the public have been made possible by federal support.

“Nearly $200 million has been cut from the historic preservation fund, that really slashes core funding,” Gordon said. “That jeopardizes programs like the Save America’s Treasure grants, which has really supported a lot of buildings.”

“Those kind of things support that structural, stabilization work.”

Eight Wright buildings in the United States, including Oak Park’s Unity Temple, are designated UNESCO heritage sites. Gordon said federal support for landmarks with that status looks to be dwindling alongside staffing for the program at the National Park Service.

“We’ve seen that the National Park Service is a bureau that’s getting decimated,” she said. “There’s like two people left in the office of international affairs. It’s going to get consolidated into other parts of the National Park Service. So what happens with new nominations, what happens with our reporting relationships with our broader international cultural community? These are big things that we don’t have answers to.”

Federal cuts are also anticipated to have ripple effects to preservation efforts done by statewide and local agencies, impacting privately owned Wright structures as well as the buildings kept open to the public, Gordon said.

“Those funding cuts are going to weaken those offices in every state,” she said. “Those are really important to keep, so then that’s really scary.”

Budget cuts in Los Angeles’ city government announced earlier this month threaten to shutter the Wright-designed Hollyhock House museum.

Closer to home, the JJ Walser House in neighboring Austin is considered one of the most “endangered” historic landmarks in Illinois. Since its longtime owner died in 2019, the West Side home has gone into foreclosure and is the subject of a City of Chicago complaint over the buildings poor condition, brought on by years of deferred maintenance.

Helping preserve Wright’s structures and other architectural landmarks should remain a federal priority, Gordon said.

“It’s about telling the full American story,” she said.

Meet Frank Lloyd Wright’s Accomplished Illustrator Sister

The Wright family was rich in creative talent, with Frank Lloyd Wright being the most famous as a groundbreaking architect. His sister, Maginel Wright Enright, was an accomplished but lesser-known artist and children's book illustrator. Born in 1877, she launched her career in Chicago, studied at the Art Institute, and began as a fashion illustrator. She illustrated over 60 children's books, including collaborations with The Wizard of Oz author L. Frank Baum. Her daughter, Elizabeth Enright, often modeled for her and later became a renowned children's author.

Maginel also worked for major magazines, created vibrant needlepoint art, designed fashion items like sequined shoes for Capezio, and continued exploring creative crafts into her later years. She spent time at her brother's Taliesin compound and wrote a memoir, The Valley of the God-Almighty Joneses, before her death in 1966. Her artistic legacy lives on through her daughter Elizabeth, who authored award-winning works like Thimble Summer and Gone-Away Lake.

Watch How Frank Lloyd Wright’s Architecture Evolved Over 70 Years

Architect Michael Wyetzner of Michielli + Wyetzner Architects returns to Architectural Digest's video series titled The Blueprint Show to break down the extraordinary 70-year career of Frank Lloyd Wright. From the groundbreaking Prairie style homes that redefined American domestic architecture to his visionary organic architecture and innovative Usonian houses, Wright designed over 1,000 buildings–532 of which were built. Wyetzner explores how Wright reinvented his architectural voice across decades to become one of the most influential architects in history.

Historic Pacific Palisades Estate Designed By Lloyd Wright Hits Market For $12.88 Million

A historic Los Angeles estate once owned by famed composer Alfred Newman has hit the market for $12.88 million. Located at 14148 Rustic Lane in Pacific Palisades, this mid-century compound was designed by Lloyd Wright, the son of Frank Lloyd Wright, and has been extensively restored. Set on nearly 1.4 acres surrounded by sycamore, oak, and fruit trees, the home offers a secluded retreat in the heart of the city.

The property includes a main residence with five bedrooms and four bathrooms, two detached bedroom suites, and a guesthouse, totaling 4,386 square feet. Newman, known for his nine Academy Awards, used the estate as a creative sanctuary, with the guesthouse once serving as a music studio.

In 2007, actress Diane Keaton purchased the home for $9.1 million and carried out a careful restoration, blending modern upgrades with the original design. The home now features an upgraded kitchen, a reimagined primary suite, and stunning details like floor-to-ceiling glass walls in the main bedroom, offering views of the canyon and lush grounds, which include a pool and outdoor entertainment area.

This home is a rare mix of architectural pedigree and Hollywood history, having only changed hands three times since its construction in 1950. It’s currently being marketed by Frank Langen and Diana Braun of Compass.

Fay Jones Daughters Honor Family Legacy

Jean Cameron “Cami” Jones, an alumna of the University of Arkansas, has made a generous contribution to the university to honor her parents, Fay and Gus Jones. Cami, the younger of the two Jones daughters, has committed a $500,000 planned gift to establish the Fay and Gus Jones Legacy Endowment in Architecture and Design at the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design. This endowment will fund publications, exhibitions, and events that celebrate the legacy of her father, renowned architect Fay Jones. Cami's gift honors both her father's architectural achievements and her mother's vital role in supporting the family and Fay’s career.

In addition, Cami and her sister, Janis, donated the 1990 AIA Gold Medal awarded to Fay Jones, recognizing his significant influence on architecture. Cami’s personal background includes a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Education from the U of A, and a career in education, most notably with the Texas Education Agency. After spending years in Houston and Austin, Cami recently returned to Fayetteville.

Her gift reflects the deep devotion she feels toward her parents and their contributions to the world of architecture. Fay Jones, a native Arkansan and the first dean of the Fay Jones School, is celebrated for his design of homes and chapels, particularly in Arkansas. His wife, Gus, played an essential behind-the-scenes role, managing the household and supporting Fay’s professional work.

Cami, who has previously donated to the U of A, including naming a conference room in her mother’s honor, aims to ensure the family’s legacy endures. Her father’s architecture continues to resonate, particularly through iconic works like the Thorncrown Chapel, while Gus’s steadfast support remains an important part of their shared story.

The Fay Jones School, known for its high regard in architecture education, will benefit from this continued support, preserving both the Jones family’s legacy and inspiring future generations of students.

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