Frederick C. Robie House — Attraction in Hyde Park Township

While I am glad they are restoring it, the modified tour was a bit disappointing. The only furniture were a handful of chairs. The children’s room, dining room, and guest bedroom were inaccessible. Several windows were removed for restoration. We still paid full price for the tickets. The tour guides seemed very weary and uptight, and they projected a thinly-veiled disdain for tourists. “Just, you know, don’t touch anything.” My friend and I were waiting in the courtyard outside the gift shop (where I had just spent $30 on souvenirs) before our tour started, and we were scolded and told to shush for laughing briefly during our conversation. It was the end of a busy Sunday, but no need to shame paying customers for having a joyful conversation in a public outdoor space. I would recommend getting tickets in advance, as we had to wait 30 minutes for the next available tour. And don’t you dare forget your ticket or join the wrong tour group. Two others were chastised for these transgressions. Also, they provide a plastic outdoor locker for your valuables, should you wish to not carry them around (or if you have a backpack), but I saw no fewer than 4 different staff members open and close the locker for no reason, while no tourists were present. So, I wouldn’t necessarily say the belongings were 100% “safe.” If I were to visit again, I would wait for the restoration to be finished and would pray that the tour guides are in a...

The Frederick C. Robie House designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright provides a fascinating look at the Prairie School style while touring this beautifully preserved home. Built between 1909-1910, the Robie House is considered one of Wright's architectural masterpieces.

I joined a guided tour which allowed access to view the home's rooms, features, and furniture. Wright's revolutionary open layout and low horizontal lines epitomize his "organic architecture" philosophy. Design details like the leaded art glass windows with Wright's signature geometric patterns allow light to flow beautifully throughout the home. It was incredible to see the fireplace inglenook and famous cantilevered roof eaves up close while hearing stories about the Robie family who lived there.

The knowledgeable and engaging docents brought the history alive room-by-room during the tour. I appreciated that photography is allowed - capturing those classic Wright design elements for posterity was a treat!

The Robie House interior restoration has been meticulously done. Touring this iconic Prairie School building was an architectural highlight of my trip to Chicago. Frank Lloyd Wright fans should not miss the rare opportunity to glimpse inside one of his most famous and influential designs. This National Historic Landmark is a true...

We toured the house on April 2019, and it had just been reopened after a restoration. We chose the "A Modern House" tour, which is the basic one and it was very comprehensive. Frank, out guide was very knowledgeable not only of the history of the house and of FLW architecture, but he provided a lot of social context which helped understanding some of the choices that were made. It is a less "intimate" experience compared to the tour of his own house and studio in oak Park, but it is a lot more focused on FLW's vision of how architecture should be. The tour is approximately one hour long. Backpacks, drinks and food not allowed in the house. Small purses can be carried. Parking may be hard as the house is in the middle of University of Chicago, so plan accordingly ( there are some closed and opened parking options around). We parked in the North Parking Lot and it is a nice 10 minutes walking from there.

If you go before lunch and want to grab some food after, Medici On 57th nearby is a nice spot, with a very diverse atmosphere and good food.

Obviously...