Fallingwater Celebrates Its 90th Anniversary
By • June 10, 2026 0 530
Fallingwater has always been more than just a vacation home. It remains one of the most acclaimed and dramatic designs by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who also designed the Guggenheim Museum in New York. Less than four hours from Washington, D.C., the modernist masterwork, named for its sensational waterfall, has been an architectural centerpiece of southwestern Pennsylvania for 90 years.
Wright designed Fallingwater in 1935 for the Kaufmann family, owners of a Pittsburgh department store, as a place for them to get away from city life. He drew inspiration directly from nature for every element of the home’s design: colors, materials, motifs and sculptural forms.
Since Fallingwater was designed to harmonize so closely with its natural surroundings, the home is an ideal place to visit all year, as it tends to change with each season’s light and weather.
In 1963, the home was donated by Edgar Kaufmann Jr. to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy so that it could be preserved and open to the public for years to come. In addition to being a National Historic Landmark, Fallingwater is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
For the remainder of the year, visitors to Wright’s Fallingwater can participate in events celebrating the home’s 90th anniversary. On June 12 and 13, Fallingwater is offering “A Sensory Journey,” combining a chocolate tasting with Christopher Curtin of Éclat Chocolates with a dinner tour.
The theme of Fallingwater’s 90th Anniversary Gala on Aug. 29 will be art and nature. On Sept. 26 — late September being a spectacular time to visit western Pennsylvania — Fallingwater and MCG Jazz will partner to celebrate the anniversary and honor Pittsburgh jazz legends with a performance by the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra at the MCG Jazz Music Hall.
“Families can combine these events and visits to Fallingwater with hiking at Bear Run Nature Reserve and a number of other outdoor activities in the Laurel Highlands,” said Clinton Piper, senior administrator of special projects at Fallingwater. In addition, families can try whitewater rafting and biking along the Great Allegheny Passage.
To stay on the Wright-related path, there’s also Kentuck Knob, a 12-minute drive from Fallingwater, designed by Wright for I. N. Hagan, owner of a local ice-cream firm, and his wife Bernardine. Polymath Park, a 130-acre resort about 30 minutes from Fallingwater, features two relocated homes designed by Wright and two designed by his apprentice Peter Berndtson.
When asked what Wright would think about Fallingwater today, Piper said: “Wright would likely be pleased that Fallingwater continues to challenge conventional notions of building and living and remains a source of inspiration for people around the world.
“One of the most enduring lessons from Wright is the importance of the principles of organic architecture — that a building should be thoughtfully integrated with its site, inspired by the surrounding landscape and connected to local materials and craftsmanship,” Piper continued. “Fallingwater reminds visitors of the essential connection between nature, beauty and personal well-being, and experiencing architecture in harmony with the natural world can provide a powerful sense of calm and renewal that is increasingly important in everyday life.”
If you’re planning on spending a weekend at Fallingwater, the Historic Stone House Restaurant, Inn and Tavern in Farmington offers classic American fare with an elegant twist. The restaurant, which first opened its doors in 1822 to wagoners and travelers along the National Road, is worth a stop for fine dining among the Pennsylvania mountains. More information on dining options can be found at golaurelhighlands.com.
