Our People Matter

Fallingwater staff

Larry Fallon

Fallingwater Educator

Sometimes, the best way to teach is to listen.

That’s the approach taken by Larry Fallon, a part-time educator at Fallingwater. Retired after 30 years of teaching, Larry has lead groups on tours of the house and grounds since 2023.

He leads visitors who might hail from any country in the world. Some are Wrightophiles with a deep understanding of Frank Lloyd Wright’s philosophy of organic architecture. Others have dreamed their entire lives of witnessing firsthand the house built in harmony with nature. Still others arrive with minimal understanding of architecture, curious to see the house over a waterfall.

The depth and breadth of visitors’ questions can be surprising, so Larry and his fellow educators read a lot. “I try to be open and curious along with the visitors, encouraging them to observe, comment and question,” Larry says. “They guide my talk.”

Indeed, the most enjoyable part of Larry’s job is the “incredibly curious and interested visitors and my incredibly knowledgeable colleagues.” Spending his days in one of the most famous houses in the world helps, too. “It’s inspiring to be immersed regularly in the art and architecture of the Kaufmann home built by Frank Lloyd Wright.”

No stranger to beauty and peaceful surroundings, Larry, a Buddhist, is inspired by the Dali Lama and other dharma teachers. He loves to garden and cultivate bonsai, and “in my woodworking shop, I enjoy making beautiful things out of interesting pieces of wood.” Entomologist and conservationist Douglas Tallamy and botanist and author Robin Wall Kimmerer provide sources of understanding and inspiration.

Larry invites people who love Fallingwater to support this work of art in harmony with nature. “Anyone local can volunteer, providing support in various ways,” he says. “And visitors can become members of Fallingwater.”