In the vast expanse of Wyoming, a single residential masterpiece stands as a testament to Frank Lloyd Wright’s far-reaching genius: the Quintin Blair House in Cody. Built between 1952 and 1953, this private residence is not just a house but an embodiment of Wright’s “natural house” theme, meticulously integrating with its rugged, high-desert surroundings. Designed on a precise four-foot grid system, the home showcases hallmarks of Wright’s Usonian period, including a low, nearly flat roof that dramatically cantilevers over the living room, expansive walls of glass that invite the outside in, and distinctive mitered corner windows that eliminate visual obstructions. Local ashlar sandstone and warm Philippine mahogany were carefully chosen materials, ensuring the structure felt organically connected to the landscape.
A Visit to Taliesin
The commission for this unique home came from Quintin Blair and his wife, Ruth Taggart Blair. Ruth’s connection to Wright began in the 1930s when her professor, Bruce Goff, took her class to visit Taliesin in Wisconsin. Years later, in 1951, while visiting Arizona, the Blairs unexpectedly met Wright at Taliesin West. Wright, noting his lack of a building in Wyoming, offered to design a house for them.
Quintin Blair, a prominent druggist in Cody who owned Blair’s Drugs, was instrumental in supervising the construction of the house, often receiving directions directly from Wright over the telephone, with apprentices occasionally visiting the site. The Blairs were also notable for collecting prairie-style art glass light fixtures and dining room chairs from the demolished Yellowstone Canyon Hotel, some of which adorned their Wright home.
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Location of the Blair House
5588 Greybull Highway, Cody, WY
Tours
The house is privately owned and not available for tours.
Places to Stay in Cody, Wyoming
- Holiday Inn Cody – Convention Center
- Irma Hotel – built by Buffalo Bill and named after his daughter
