Mary F. Roberts, Executive Director Martin House Restoration Corporation 716-856-3858 (Office) 716-440-6250 (Cell)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
FOR RELEASE ON: April 18, 2012 Contact: Mary F. Roberts, Executive Director Martin House Restoration Corporation 716-856-3858 (office) 716-440-6250 (cell) Buffalo Wright Sites Launch All Wright All Day Tour Package First Public Offering of this Immersive Experience BUFFALO, NEW YORK – A collaboration between Buffalo, NY area sites designed by Frank Lloyd Wright: the Darwin Martin House Complex, the Graycliff Estate, Forest Lawn’s Blue Sky Mausoleum and the Fontana Rowing Boathouse has resulted in an exclusive new tour offering for 2012: All Wright All Day. Building on successful day-long sessions designed for last year’s National Preservation Conference of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the four Buffalo-area Frank Lloyd Wright sites are now proud to offer to the general public this full-day immersion in the built environment that Wright created for the region. Western New York affords visitors the rare opportunity to see a variety of Wright’s residential, recreational and monumental designs–both historic and newly-constructed. This all-inclusive package will begin at historic Forest Lawn, and proceed by trolley to the Martin House Complex for an extended tour, then a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Rowing Boathouse, lunch at the Buffalo Yacht Club and an in-depth tour of the Graycliff Estate. The trolley will then return to Forest Lawn to visit the Blue Sky Mausoleum. A knowledgeable guide will be on hand to point out architectural treasures along the way, including views of the Walter V. Davidson House and the William R. Heath House. All Wright All Day will be offered on: Friday, April 27; Tuesday, May 22; Wednesday, June 13; Saturday, June 30; Friday, July 13; Tuesday, August 7; Wednesday, August 29; Saturday, September 22 and Wednesday, October 10. The cost is $100 (general public) / $95 (for Martin House and Graycliff members). Pricing includes all tours, lunch and transportation. This package is also available to tour operators by reservation. “This unique tour package builds on the exciting momentum generated by visitors to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s annual conference last October,” says MHRC Executive Director Mary F. Roberts. “Tours such as All Wright All Day were so popular with the conference attendees that we wanted to make them a permanent offering for all, and spotlight Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy in this region.” Graycliff Executive Director, Reine Hauser, added: “We’re so pleased that this exciting collaboration between our sister sites- Martin House, Forest Lawn and the Boathouse-will for the first time allow us to offer our visitors tours like All Wright All Day.” Anne McCooey, Executive Director of the Fontana Boathouse, noted that “This collaborative program includes a variety of architecture by Wright that extends our understanding of Wright’s architecture including-and beyond-the residential.” “This is a wonderful opportunity for visitors to the area, and those who live locally alike to experience the full range of Wright’s architecture in one extended tour” said Joseph P. Dispenza, President of Forest Lawn. Reservations are required and may be made at www.darwinmartinhouse.org or by calling (716) 856-3858. While under restoration, the Martin House site is not considered accessible under ADA standards. ABOUT THE MARTIN HOUSE COMPLEX The Martin House Complex, designed and built from 1903-05, is being restored to its 1907 condition. Wright scholars consider it a significant turning point in the evolution of the Prairie house concept. Wright called the Martin House his “opus,” and had its plans tacked above his drafting board for decades. The original complex consisted of the main Martin House, pergola, conservatory and carriage house, the Barton House and a gardener’s cottage, totaling nearly 32,000 square feet. Reconstruction of the pergola, conservatory and carriage house was completed in early 2007 in the most ambitious restoration of demolished Wright buildings ever undertaken. The Martin House Restoration Corporation is a New York not-for-profit corporation founded in 1992. It has a 30-member board of directors and nearly 400 active volunteers. The historic Martin House site is open for tours year round. More information about this National Historic Landmark, including tour information, can be found at www.darwinmartinhouse.org ABOUT THE GRAYCLIFF ESTATE Known as the “Jewel on the Lake” the Graycliff Estate is a complex of three buildings and 8.5 acres of grounds and gardens, all designed by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Nestled high on a bluff overlooking Lake Erie, Graycliff is the most significant summer home Wright ever designed, and a realization of his ideal of organic architecture. Built of indigenous materials, Graycliff’s buildings are integrated within the landscape and feature cantilevered balconies, graceful terraces extending into the vista, and perhaps most revolutionary, “ribbons” of windows that permit views of the lake actually through the largest building, the Isabelle R. Martin House. The Graycliff Estate was created by Wright between 1926-1931 as the summer residence of Isabelle and Darwin D. Martin, for whom Wright had earlier designed a city home, the Martin House Complex. Although located only 20 minutes from downtown Buffalo, the sweeping views of Lake Erie, the relaxing landscape and the magnificent architecture are a world away from the cares of the everyday world. On a visit to Graycliff, visitors unwind in the tranquil setting of sunken gardens, esplanade, fountain and pond. They experience first-hand Wright’s design principals, blurring the distinction between nature and architecture, amidst the magnificent architecture and serene gardens and grounds. Graycliff is a New York State Landmark, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Ample free parking; Pavilion gift shop. The Graycliff Conservancy, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving and providing public access to the Graycliff Estate; it is located at 6472 Old Lake Shore Rd, Derby, NY 14047. ABOUT THE FONTANA BOATHOUSE Frank Lloyd Wright’s Rowing Boathouse Corporation dba Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fontana Boathouse is a New York State 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation formed in 2000. The mission of the Fontana Boathouse is to enrich Buffalo’s waterfront experience by providing: a significant architectural tourism destination; a unique facility for business and social events or functions; and a center for rowing activity. For more information on FLW Fontana Boathouse visit www.wrightsboathouse.org or call 716-362-3140. ABOUT FOREST LAWN As one of the first deliberately designed and professionally landscaped rural cemeteries in the United States, Forest Lawn is at the heart of Western New York’s cultural tourism renaissance. Its first interment took place in 1850; today there are 162,000+ permanent residents in this 269-acre, nonsectarian, not-for-profit cemetery. Forest Lawn offers year- round guided tours, educational programming, an annual flag retirement ceremony, special veteran programming; it is truly a destination for art, history, genealogy and so much more. Forest Lawn is the only local full-service cemetery for traditional and cremation arrangements listed on the State and National Registries of Historic Place. At Forest Lawn, the future is our past. For more information, visit www.forest-lawn.com or find us on Facebook. ### .