It is hard to overstate the importance of Fallingwater. Designed in 1935 and completed 18 months later, it is arguably the most famous private residence of the 20th century. While most architects would build a house to view a waterfall, Frank Lloyd Wright famously insisted on building the house over the falls, integrating the Kaufmann family into the serene environment of the Bear Run stream.
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A Masterwork of Organic Architecture
Fallingwater was commissioned by Edgar J. Kaufmann, Sr., the owner of a prominent Pittsburgh department store, as a weekend retreat. Wright’s design is a symphony of cantilevered concrete terraces that seem to float above the rushing water, anchored to the natural sandstone of the hillside.
The house is a definitive example of Wright’s philosophy of Organic Architecture, where the boundary between the indoors and outdoors is intentionally blurred. The interior features stone floors harvested from the site, a hearth built directly into the bedrock, and glass walls that invite the forest inside. In 1939, a guest house was added to the property, connected to the main residence by a covered, winding walkway.
The significance of this site is recognized globally; in 2019, it was one of eight Frank Lloyd Wright works inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Since the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy took stewardship of the home in 1963, over five million visitors have experienced what Smithsonian magazine calls one of the “28 Places to See Before You Die.”
Plan Your Visit
Location 📍
Fallingwater is located at 1419 Mill Run Rd, Mill Run, PA. It is situated in the Laurel Highlands of Western Pennsylvania, roughly 70 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.
Tour Fallingwater 🎫
Fallingwater offers a variety of experiences, ranging from exterior-only “Grounds Passes” to in-depth, private guided tours.
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Advance Reservations: Because of its global popularity, tours sell out weeks or even months in advance.
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Booking: You can view current rates and book your time slot directly at Fallingwater.org.
Make it a Trip 🧳
Fallingwater is the crown jewel of a Wright-rich region. To see the “complete picture” of his later career, we highly recommend pairing your visit with Kentuck Knob (just 7 miles away) and the houses at Polymath Park.
For lodging in the Laurel Highlands, you have several unique options:
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Fleur de Montagna: A Wright-inspired prairie house located 32 miles from the site; it is a featured lodging partner of Fallingwater.
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Polymath Park: For an immersive architectural stay, you can book overnight in Wright-designed homes like the Mantyla or Duncan House.
Additional Resources & Inspired Products
Find unique products, books, and gifts inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy at our Amazon storefront: Wright at Home!
- Fallingwater by Lynda Waggoner (Amazon book)
- World Heritage Sites: The Definitive Guide to All 1,199 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Amazon)
