William H. Winslow House: A Prairie School Pioneer

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Witness the dawn of Prairie Style architecture at Frank Lloyd Wright's groundbreaking William H. Winslow House in River Forest, Illinois.

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William H. Winslow House - Frank Lloyd Wright

The William H. Winslow House in River Forest, Illinois, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1893-94, marks his first major independent commission and a pivotal step towards his signature Prairie School style. Its innovative design, featuring a symmetrical facade and open interior, challenged the architectural norms of the time.

A brief summary to William H. Winslow House - Frank Lloyd Wright

515 Auvergne Pl, River Forest, Illinois, 60305, US
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Local tips

While the house is a private residence, admire the exterior from the street to appreciate Wright's architectural genius.
Visit nearby Oak Park, home to the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings.
Take a walk around the neighborhood to see other beautiful homes and appreciate the architecture of River Forest.

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Getting There

Walking

From the River Forest Metra station, head north on Lathrop Avenue toward Central Avenue. Turn left onto Central Avenue, then right onto Keystone Avenue. Continue onto Auvergne Place. The William H. Winslow House will be on your left. The walk is approximately 1 mile and should take about 20 minutes.
Public Transport

Take the CTA Green Line to the Harlem/Lake station. From there, transfer to the Pace Route 305 bus towards River Forest. Get off at the Chicago Avenue and Lathrop Avenue stop. Walk north on Lathrop Avenue, turn left onto Central Avenue, then right onto Keystone Avenue, which becomes Auvergne Place. The Winslow House will be on your left. A single ride on the CTA is $2.50, and a single ride on Pace is $1.75.
Driving

From downtown Chicago, take I-290 West towards Eisenhower Expressway. Exit onto Harlem Avenue North. Continue on Harlem Avenue to Chicago Avenue and turn right. Turn left onto Keystone Avenue, which becomes Auvergne Place. The Winslow House will be on your left. Street parking is available, but be sure to check for any parking restrictions. Parking is free on the street.

Discover more about William H. Winslow House - Frank Lloyd Wright

The William H. Winslow House, located at 515 Auvergne Place in River Forest, Illinois, stands as a testament to Frank Lloyd Wright's burgeoning genius and the dawn of the Prairie School architectural movement. Designed and built between 1893 and 1894, it was Wright's first major commission after leaving his apprenticeship with Adler and Sullivan, and it holds a significant place in architectural history. Wright himself considered the Winslow House extremely important to his career, later describing it as "the first 'prairie house'".William Winslow, the original owner, was a manufacturer of decorative ironwork and a man of business with, as Wright put it, "unspoiled instincts and ideals". Winslow's firm had even produced the facade on the Carson Pirie Scott building for Wright's previous employers. Dissatisfied with the prevailing neo-Tudor styles, Winslow sought a new vision for his home, leading him to the young Frank Lloyd Wright.The Winslow House presents a striking contrast between its formal, symmetrical front facade and its more organic, asymmetrical rear. The front is horizontally divided into a stone section, a golden Roman brick section, and a terra cotta frieze of Sullivanesque ornament, showcasing the influence of Wright's mentor, Louis Sullivan. A low-pitched roof with wide eaves further emphasizes the horizontal lines, a hallmark of the Prairie School. In contrast, the rear of the house is a dynamic composition of geometric forms.The interior plan, echoing Wright's own home and the Charnley House, features a central fireplace, an entrance hall, and rooms arranged around it. The design incorporates large windows that flood the rooms with natural light, blurring the lines between indoors and outdoors. The home also originally included a stable, where the hearth was first established as the focus of the domestic space.The Winslow House was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 17, 1970. While the house remains privately owned and is not generally open to the public, its exterior can be admired from the street, offering a glimpse into the early work of one of America's most influential architects.