Dana-Thomas House, Prairie architecture house in Springfield, United States
The Dana-Thomas House is a Prairie-style residence in Springfield featuring continuous art glass windows and doors that integrate light throughout the structure. The building connects multiple levels through carefully arranged rooms that create flowing sightlines and interconnected spaces.
Susan Lawrence Dana commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright in 1902 to transform her family's existing building, introducing Prairie School architectural principles to the structure. The project took place during the period when this architectural style was developing across America.
The house reflects the living culture of early 20th-century upper-class society, with rooms designed for social events and artistic performances. Visitors can see today how the family moved through elegantly appointed spaces and what role craftsmanship and design played in their daily life.
Visitors should allow time to explore the numerous rooms, as the house rewards careful attention to its many design details and spatial relationships. Guided tours help explain the architectural choices and how different areas connect.
The residence was originally a 19th-century Italianate mansion but was completely redesigned into what it is today, showing how one architect reimagined an older structure. This transformation demonstrates the dramatic shift in American architectural thinking that occurred in the early 1900s.
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