The George Blossom House is a standout among Frank Lloyd Wright’s early Chicago commissions. Built in 1892, it is often grouped with the “Bootleg Houses” because it was designed while Wright was still employed by Adler & Sullivan. However, unlike the whimsical, turreted shapes of his Oak Park bootlegs, the Blossom House shows Wright mastering a very different aesthetic: Colonial Revival.
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Symmetry and Sophistication
For the Blossom House, Wright stepped away from the irregular shapes of his earlier work and embraced a strict, symmetrical elegance. This project proved that even as a young architect, Wright could take a traditional style and strip away the unnecessary “clutter” to create something timeless.
Key architectural highlights:
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The Circular Porch: The home’s most distinctive feature is the semi-circular, columned entry porch that creates a soft, inviting transition from the street.
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Mastery of Proportion: The house feels grounded and balanced, a precursor to the horizontal stability he would later perfect in the Prairie Style.
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Yellow Roman Brick: Much like the Charnley-Persky house, Wright used long, thin Roman bricks here to emphasize the building’s length and modern profile.
George Blossom was a colleague of Warren McArthur, and the fact that both men hired Wright simultaneously in 1892 seems to speak to the word-of-mouth reputation Wright was already building in Chicago’s elite circles.
Plan Your Visit
Location 📍
The George Blossom House is located in the Kenwood neighborhood in Chicago. It sits almost directly next door to the Warren McArthur House, making it incredibly easy to view both on the same trip.
Curb-Side Viewing Only 🛑
The George Blossom House is a privately owned residence. While it is a beautiful sight from the sidewalk, please respect the residents’ privacy and do not enter the property.
Tour 🎫
While the interior is private, the Kenwood neighborhood is a popular destination for self-guided architectural walks. For those looking for an official guided experience, the Chicago Architecture Center frequently includes the Kenwood area in its neighborhood walking tours. The house is also occasionally a highlight of regional architectural events focusing on Wright’s early period.
Make it a Trip 🧳
To get the “complete picture” of 1892, you have to look at the Blossom and McArthur houses as part of a larger explosion of work. That same year, Wright was also designing the Harlan House nearby, the Charnley-Persky House on the Gold Coast, and the Gale and Parker “triplets” in Oak Park.
For the ultimate architectural walk, start here in Kenwood and head just one mile south into Hyde Park to visit the legendary Robie House. Seeing the Blossom House (1892) alongside the Robie House (1910) provides a stunning visual timeline of Wright’s journey from a rebellious apprentice to a global icon.
To explore this historic stretch of Chicago’s South Side, check out our curated collection of hotels near the University of Chicago and Hyde Park on our Expedia storefront.
Additional Resources & Inspired Products
Find unique products, books, and gifts inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright at our Amazon storefront: Wright at Home!
- Hometown Architect: The Complete Buildings of Frank Lloyd Wright in Oak Park And River Forest, Illinois
- The Bootleg Homes of Frank Lloyd Wright: His Clandestine Work Revealed by Bob Hartnett