Enjoy it while visiting Springfield in Illinois
The Dana-Thomas House stands as one of the most significant examples of Prairie School architecture in the United States. Located at 301 East Lawrence Avenue in Springfield, Illinois, this magnificent home was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built between 1902 and 1904 for philanthropist Susan Lawrence Dana. The house represents the largest remodeling commission Wright had received at the time and showcases his revolutionary approach to organic architecture.
The story of the Dana-Thomas House begins with Susan Lawrence Dana, an independent-minded woman who inherited a substantial fortune from silver mines in the Rocky Mountains. Widowed in 1900, Dana sought to completely remodel her family’s Italianate mansion on Springfield’s fashionable “Aristocracy Hill” neighborhood. Her search for an architect ended when she was introduced to Frank Lloyd Wright in 1902.
Wright and Dana shared a remarkable kinship, particularly their mutual appreciation for organic architecture and Japanese aesthetics. Wright designed approximately 450 art glass windows, skylights, door panels, sconces, and light fixtures for the house, many of which survive today. The dining room features a mural by George Mann Niedecken centered on a sumac motif, adding to the home’s distinctive character.
Visitors to the Dana-Thomas House encounter one of the most intact Frank Lloyd Wright designed interiors in the United States. The house features approximately 100 pieces of free-standing Wright-designed white oak furniture, created specifically for Dana to display her collection of Japanese prints. The architectural layout emphasizes the concept of “expanding space,” with windows strategically placed to draw attention toward awareness of the outdoors.
A substantial west wing leads through an interior Torii gate-like hallway into two of the largest rooms. The upper-level gallery served purposes of musical entertainment, while the ground-level library contains special easels for displaying Dana’s Japanese print collection. Notable features include barrel vault ceilings, the distinctive art glass throughout, and the seamless integration of interior and exterior spaces that defines Wright’s Prairie School philosophy.
The house remained in the Dana family until about 1928, after which it passed through several owners. Charles C. Thomas, a successful medical publisher, purchased the home in 1944 and maintained it until his death in 1969. His wife Nanette continued as custodian until 1975. The couple preserved the original furnishings and design, and their estate sold the property to the state of Illinois in 1981 for $1.0 million, significantly less than could have been earned had the household been broken up.
The Dana-Thomas House is open to the public for guided tours. The house is operated by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and offers visitors the opportunity to experience Wright’s architectural vision firsthand. The house has been recognized as a National Historic Landmark and remains one of Springfield’s most distinctive cultural attractions, offering visitors a window into early 20th-century American architectural innovation.