from National Trust for Historic Preservation
Tour fees to go towards flood restoration
Plano, Ill.—Less than a month since Fox River flood waters entered Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s modern masterpiece—the Farnsworth House—doors will once again open through October 2008 for special tours designed to raise funds for mounting restoration costs. Site director tours on Wednesdays and special weekend tours offer visitors a first-hand look at restoration in progress, as work continues on interior house damage and property damage. Visitors will also have a rare look at the interior of the Farnsworth House without the controversial teak wardrobe.
This special tour schedule is:
* Every Wednesday, at 1 P.M., for a donation of $100—Tour with Farnsworth House Site Director Whitney French who leads the restoration efforts and was on hand the day of the flood.
* Weekends, for a donation of $50—Walk the grounds, see how high flood waters rose, and get a rare look inside the Farnsworth House and see the damage. The public is asked to check www.farnsworthhouse.org/ to register for specific weekend times.
————————————————————————————–
————————————————————————————–
“These are truly unique and special tours we are offering during this very difficult time,” said French. “We are still working very hard on all recovery efforts which will ultimately cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. We hope the public will come out, support these efforts with a donation, and have an educational experience learning about what we are dealing with on a daily basis.
“One of the most unique elements of the tour will be that visitors will see the interior of the house without the controversial teak wardrobe for the first time in 57 years,” French added. “It has been removed to be conserved. Its vacancy leaves an absolutely stunning and simple view of the house—one that any admirer of modernism and Mies will absolutely love.”
The Farnsworth House, fell prey to Mother Nature Saturday, September 13, and Sunday, September 14, as more than eight inches of rain fell in two days from Tropical Storm Lowell, immediately followed by the remnants of Hurricane Ike. Fox River waters rose two feet over the top deck, entering the Farnsworth House interior. Built within the flood plain of the Fox River in Plano, Illinois, the house is supported by columns more than five feet above the ground which proved not high enough as record breaking rain amounts brought the river more than fourteen feet above its normal level.
The Farnsworth House, which is a National Trust Historic Site, was built by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1951. It is one of the most famous examples of modernist domestic architecture and was considered unprecedented in its day. Landmarks Illinois and The National Trust for Historic Preservation saved the house in 2003 by purchasing it for $7.5 million at an auction in New York City. Today, the house is part of the National Trust’s collection of 29 historic homes, and is operated by Landmarks Illinois as a house museum. The last flood of the house took place in 1996, when the property was owned as a private residence. That clean-up effort took months and hundreds of thousands of dollars.A blog documenting the restoration of the Farnsworth House can be found at www.farnsworthhouse.org.
Landmarks Illinois is the state’s leading voice for historic preservation. Since its founding in 1971, the 2,500-member statewide organization has gone on to save countless architectural and historic treasures throughout Illinois. Landmarks Illinois’ mission today focuses on saving building, facilitating preservation, and educating the public through innovative programs and promotion. For more information, visit www.landmarksillinois.org.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a non-profit membership organization bringing people together to protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter to them. By saving the places where great moments from history—and the important moments of everyday life—took place, the National Trust for Historic Preservation helps revitalize neighborhoods and communities, spark economic development and promote environmental sustainability. With headquarters in Washington, DC, 9 regional and field offices, 29 historic sites, and partner organizations in all 50 states, the National Trust for Historic Preservation provides leadership, education, advocacy and resources to a national network of people, organizations and local communities committed to saving places, connecting us to our history and collectively shaping the future of America’s stories. For more information, visit www.PreservationNation.org/.”
Source: National Trust for Historic Preservation - Press Center
————————————————————————————–
————————————————————————————–
Popularity: 6% [?]
