National Historic Landmark · single-family detached home · Mill Run, Pennsylvania

Fallingwater

House in Stewart Township, Pennsylvania. Built 1936 by Frank Lloyd Wright. Added to the National Register in 1974, and a National Historic Landmark.

1982 Frank Lloyd Wright Half-Ounce Gold Medal (rev)Blume Peter the Rock Art Institute of ChicagoFallingwater, PA 1997 06Fallingwater, PA 1997 07
Photos via Wikimedia Commons · 6 in the Commons category

What it is

Fallingwater is a house museum in Stewart Township in the Laurel Highlands of southwestern Pennsylvania, United States. Designed by the architect Frank Lloyd Wright, it is built partly over a waterfall on the Bear Run stream. The three-story residence was developed as a weekend retreat for Edgar J. Kaufmann Sr., the owner of Kaufmann's Department Store in Pittsburgh, and his wife Liliane. The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC), which has operated Fallingwater as a tourist attraction since 1963, maintains 5,000 acres (2,000 ha) surrounding the house.

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The record

Property typeBuilding
AddressW of PA 381, Mill Run vicinity, PA
CountyFayette County
ListedJul 23, 1974
Listed forLandscape architecture, Conservation, Architecture
Level of significanceNational
Also known asEdgar Kaufman House
Reference number74001781
Built1936 · more from the 1930s
ArchitectFrank Lloyd Wright
Type of placesingle-family detached home, historic house museum
Styleorganic architecture, modern architecture
DesignationsNational Historic Landmark, part of UNESCO World Heritage Site
Contributing resources3 buildings, 1 structure
StandingYes

The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗

Visiting

AddressW of PA 381, Mill Run, PA
Websitefallingwater.org ↗
Coordinates39.9062° N, 79.4680° W · Directions ↗
Nearest national park unitFort Necessity National Battlefield · 9 miles · on Park Atlas
Federal campgrounds nearbyOutflow Camping 9 miles · Youghiogheny Recreation Area 9 miles · Somerfield North Recreation Area 11 miles
This one you can go inside. Hours and admission change with the season; the website above has the current schedule.

Explore

Map

Guidebooks to historic places in Pennsylvania

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Walking Philadelphia
    Natalie Pompilio, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Historical Tours Gettysburg
    Globe Pequot Press Editors and Randi Minetor, 2015
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Guide to the Battle of Gettysburg
    Jay Luvaas and Harold W. Nelson, 2012
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Historic Genesee country
    Rose O'Keefe, 2010
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

When was Fallingwater listed on the National Register?

Jul 23, 1974. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.

Source: National Park Service

When was Fallingwater built?

1936, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, in the organic architecture and modern architecture style.

Source: Wikidata

Can I visit Fallingwater?

Yes. Fallingwater is recorded as open to the public, and hours are on the official website.

Source: Official website

Where is Fallingwater?

W of PA 381, Mill Run vicinity, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. The nearest national park unit is Fort Necessity National Battlefield, 9 miles away.

Source: Fort Necessity National Battlefield

What does the Fallingwater listing include?

The listing counts 4 contributing resources. Those are 3 buildings and 1 structure. A contributing resource is a part of the listed property that carries its historic significance.

Source: National Park Service

Where is the nomination form for Fallingwater?

The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.

Source: National Archives

Are there campgrounds near Fallingwater?

Three federal campgrounds are within reach. The closest is Outflow Camping, 9 miles away. Youghiogheny Recreation Area is 9 miles away, and Somerfield North Recreation Area is 11 miles away.

Source: Campsite Atlas

Is there cell service at Fallingwater?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

Sources

Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 74001781. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA.