Until he died in 1959, Frank Lloyd Wright stayed at Talieson every summer. He designed Fallingwater, the Guggenheim Museum, and many other important buildings from his Talieson studio. Today, Talieson remains the summer headquarters of the Taliesin Fellowship, the school that Frank Lloyd Wright founded for apprentice architects.
What Does Talieson Mean?
Frank Lloyd Wright named his summer home Talieson in honor of his Welsh heritage. Pronounced Tally-ESS-in, the word means shining brow in the Welsh language. Talieson is like a brow because it sets on the side of a hill.
Tragedy at Taliesin
Frank Lloyd Wright designed Talieson for his mistress, Mamah Borthwick, but on August 15, 1914, the home became a bloodbath. A vengeful servant set the living quarters on fire and murdered Mamah and six other people. Writer Nancy Horan has chronicled Frank Lloyd Wright's affair and the death of his mistress in the fact-based novel, Loving Frank.
Changes at Taliesin
The Taliesin estate grew and changed as Frank Lloyd Wright purchased more land and constructed more buildings. Also, several fires destroyed parts of the original structures:
- August 15, 1914: The servant who murdered Mama Borthwick also set a fire that destroyed the living quarters.
- April 22, 1925: An apparent electrical problem caused another fired in the living quarters.
- April 26, 1952: A section of the Hillside building burned.
- Taliesin III (1925)
- Hillside Home School (1902, 1933)
- Midway Farm (1938)
- Structures designed by students of the Taliesin Fellowship
Taliesin Centennial
2011 is the centennial year for Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin. For a roundup of events, visit the Taliesin Centennial Calendar
