The Bachman-Wilson House is a masterwork of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian period, born from a family connection that transcended tragedy. Originally built in 1956 in Millstone, New Jersey, the home is a rare example of a two-story Usonian design. After facing decades of environmental threats from the rising Millstone River, the house made a historic 1,200-mile journey to its new home in the Ozarks, where it stands today ready to welcome visitors from all over the world.
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The Wright Connections
The Bachman-Wilson House was born from the “Wright Connections” of the Bachman family. Marvin Bachman, an apprentice to Wright, was working on the Seamour Shavin House in Tennessee when he was tragically killed in an automobile accident in 1951. His sister, Gloria Bachman, and her husband, Dr. Abraham Wilson, visited the Shavins in 1952 and were so moved by the design that they decided they wanted a home of their own designed by Wright. They likely included the Bachman name in their request to catch Wright’s eye, honoring Marvin’s legacy with the architect.
The House Wright Never Visited
The construction was not without drama; after Wright refused to replace a fired apprentice, Dr. Wilson essentially stepped in as the general contractor to see the project to completion. Financed with a $25,000 loan from Gloria’s father and completed in 1956, the home features an “altar-like” aesthetic created by Way-Lite concrete blocks and Philippine mahogany trim. Despite its modest footprint, the house feels expansive due to the ten-foot-high glass walls in the living room and twenty-four intricate clerestory windows. Wright, interestingly, never visited the home in person, yet his influence is felt in every passive solar beam and radiant-heated floor. Abraham and Gloria lived in the home until 1963 when they separated; Ms. Bachman continued to live there with their daughter until 1968. Ms. Bachman passed away in 1990.
Preservation and Management
In 1988, architects Lawrence and Sharon Tarantino purchased the then-dilapidated house and began a meticulous restoration, including rebuilding the kitchen to Wright’s original specifications. However, when repeated flooding threatened the home’s existence, the Tarantinos sought a buyer who could move it to safety. Crystal Bridges acquired the home in 2014, painstakingly dismantling and labeling every component before reassembling it on their Bentonville campus in 2015. The home is now owned and managed by the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
Plan Your Visit
📍Location
The Bachman-Wilson House is located on the grounds of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art at 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, Arkansas. The structure is set into the native woodland of the museum’s campus, offering a serene setting that mirrors its original wooded plot in New Jersey.
🎫Tour
Self-guided and guided tours are available. While self-guided admission to the museum grounds is free, a timed ticket is required to enter the home due to its intimate size and preserved interior. You can reach the museum at (479) 418-5700 or visit their website for current schedules and to view their virtual tour.
🧳Make it a Trip
This house is a highlight of the Mid-South’s architectural trail. Use your visit to Bentonville as a springboard to explore the nearby Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, a “Glass Cathedral” designed by Wright’s apprentice E. Fay Jones, which beautifully continues the Usonian philosophy of organic architecture.
🏨Hotels in Bentonville
- Comfort Inn Bentonville – Crystal Bridges – Part of the Choice Privileges program and the closest hotel to the museum, offering reliable amenities and free breakfast.
- The Henry Carriage House – located on a National Historic Trust property and just blocks from the historic Bentonville square
- Staybridge Suites Bentonville – Rogers (IHG): An excellent choice for families or longer stays, featuring warm suites with kitchens, a fitness center, and free breakfast.
Resources, Links & Products
Find unique products, books, and gifts inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy at our Amazon storefront: Wright at Home! https://www.amazon.com/shop/franklloydwrightsites
- Art in Architecture: Crystal Bridge Museum of Art by Linda DeBerry, Robin Groesbeck, Dylan Turk (Book)
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s Bachman-Wilson House: At Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art by Linda DeBerry (Book)