Pittsburgh, Pa. – June 12, 2020 – Fallingwater reopens Saturday, June 13, 2020, after being closed since March 15 due to health and safety reasons related to COVID-19, for exterior-only experiences.
Fallingwater is following health guidelines from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to ensure the safety of visitors, staff and volunteers, which remains its top priority. To that end, interior tours are currently unavailable as Fallingwater finalizes protocols for navigating the house with physical distancing.
Currently, Fallingwater is offering outdoor exterior self-guided and guided private tours for visitors to experience the exterior of Fallingwater and the surrounding landscape, with future plans for a gradual transition back to house tours. More information about the outdoor experiences is on Fallingwater’s website, Fallingwater.org/experience-fallingwater.
Fallingwater is projecting a significant revenue decrease in 2020 as a result of the three-month closure and the limited capacity for visitors for the second half of the year necessitated by social distancing practices. Fallingwater is working to raise the much-needed funds by seeking private contributions and engaging with online audiences through virtual tours, at-home activities, online summer sessions and webinars, among other things.
“We are pleased to welcome staff and visitors back to the site and, while things will be a little different, we hope that just seeing this magnificent architecture and experiencing the landscape will still provide meaning and context during these difficult days,” said Justin Gunther, director of Fallingwater. “Every visit will also help protect the legacy of this remarkable place, which is now part of the World Heritage List.”
Visitors interested in the outdoor tour experiences must purchase tickets in advance, and wear a mask and maintain social distancing while on site. For more information, visitors can go to Fallingwater.org or contact Fallingwater Visitor Services at 724-329-8501. To donate to Fallingwater, visit Fallingwater/donate.
Fallingwater, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935, has been open to the public as a house museum since 1964. It was inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2019 and is designated as a National Historic Landmark and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Treasure. Fallingwater is located in Mill Run, Pa., in Fayette County.
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About the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and Fallingwater:
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) enhances the region by protecting and restoring exceptional places. A private nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1932, WPC has helped to establish 11 state parks, conserved more than a quarter million acres of natural lands and protected or restored more than 3,000 miles of rivers and streams. The Conservancy owns and operates Frank Lloyd Wright Fallingwater, which was donated to WPC in 1963 and symbolizes people living in harmony with nature. In addition, WPC enriches our region’s cities and towns through 132 community gardens and other green spaces that are planted with the help of about 11,000 volunteers. The work of the Conservancy is accomplished through the support of more than 9,000 members. For more information, visit WaterLandLife.org or Fallingwater.org.
Media Contact:
Carmen Bray
Director of Communications
412-586-2358
cbray@paconserve.org
Clinton Piper
Senior Administrator of Special Projects
Fallingwater
724-329-7821
cpiper@paconserve.org