Fallingwater 75th Anniversary Events and Activities
Fallingwater’s “Life of Public Service”
2011 was an exciting year for Fallingwater, as a variety of events and activities marked the 75th anniversary of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house.
In May, a major new book on Fallingwater was published, featuring photographs by Christopher Little and essays on the architecture, family, collections, landscape, recent restoration and legacy of the house.
Two symposiums were held: one about presenting and interpreting modern house museums and another with essayists from the new book. An exhibition on the role of Kaufmann’s department store in the social and retail life of Pittsburgh was on display in Fallingwater’s Visitors Pavilion. During the summer, there were reunions for former staff, interns and students who have shared and experienced Fallingwater as a place to work and learn. The anniversary culminated with a gala at Fallingwater and in a nearby meadow under the stars in September.
“One thing any anniversary causes us to do is to look back,” said Lynda Waggoner, director of Fallingwater and vice president of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. “Earlier in the year, I reread the dedication speeches which spoke to the promise of Fallingwater and what the site meant to the local area. One speaker speculated that perhaps one day as many as 20,000 people a year might find their way to this remote mountain location. Can you imagine if that speaker were alive today, how surprised he would be to learn that last year over 160,000 visited Fallingwater?”
Earlier in the year Fallingwater was among 11 Frank Lloyd Wright sites nominated to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Heritage List. If inscribed, Fallingwater will join the company of such places as the Taj Mahal, Notre Dame and Monticello.
“During this year of celebrations we renewed old friendships and created new ones through a variety of partnerships. We learned more about the house and those involved in its creation, and strengthened our relationship with our community of members and volunteers, ensuring that Fallingwater will remain a source of inspiration for generations to come,” said Waggoner.
Click a thumbnail to view the full photo and caption
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