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Neighbor News

Frank Lloyd Wright Trust Seeks Volunteer Tour Guides

Lead tours at five historic sites in Chicago and Oak Park

The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust seeks volunteers to lead tours at five historic sites in Chicago and Oak Park: Wright’s Home and Studio, where the Prairie style of architecture was conceived; Robie House and Unity Temple, both UNESCO World Heritage sites; The Rookery; and Bach House. Volunteer interpreters (tour guides) welcome national and international visitors and share their knowledge and appreciation for Frank Lloyd Wright, architecture and history. In addition, they cultivate lasting friendships and enjoy social gatherings and group excursions.

“Our volunteers play a key role in our visitors’ experience. Their curiosity about architecture, enthusiasm for Wright, and ability to engage with an audience is truly unique,” says Volunteer Resources Manager at the Trust, Linda Bonifas-Guzman. “They are part of a welcoming community of like-minded individuals at the Trust.”

Frank Lloyd Wright’s extraordinary Oak Park Home and Studio (1889-1908) complex served as the private residence and workplace of Frank Lloyd Wright during the first 20 years of his professional career. Here, Wright conceived the Prairie style of architecture, launching a new era of modern architecture. The Frederick C. Robie House (1908-10), located in Chicago’s Hyde Park, and Unity Temple (1905-08), located in Oak Park, were recently inscribed on the World Heritage list. They synthesize all the major innovations of Wright’s design philosophy and are considered among Wright’s most sophisticated accomplishments. The Emil Bach House, located in Chicago’s Rogers Park, is a richly conceived yet intimately scaled residence, built in 1915 for the president of Chicago’s Bach Brick Company. The Rookery, located in downtown Chicago, is one of Chicago’s greatest early commercial skyscrapers with a light court designed by Wright in 1905.

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Enrollment for volunteer spring training sessions starts soon. The training is a concentrated program that involves online study, class lectures and workshops leading to certification. Training sessions start in March. For more information and to apply, visit flwright.org/volunteer or contact Linda Bonifas-Guzman at lguzman@flwright.org or 312.994.4045.

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