75th Anniversary Heritage Weekend

The Frank Lloyd Wright Unitarian Meeting House Heritage Weekend June 5-7 – All events open to the public

Friday, June 5

4-5:30 - WALKING TOUR: INSPIRED BY WRIGHT.   Meander with us through the Sunset Hills neighborhood and hear how Frank Lloyd Wright and Marshall Erdman contributed to residential development near the Meeting House while exploring the exterior of 13 modern homes designed by Wright apprentices and other architects who admired his work. Guided by Friends Board Member and Taliesin Guide, Katie Croake. See unitarianmeetinghouse.org for tickets.

7:00-9:00 – BEYOND THE BUILT – FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT’S UNREALIZED VISION IN MADISON – A presentation given by Emily Butler, Associate VP of Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives at the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. Wright designed 32 buildings for Madisonians and less than half of them were built. Emily’s talk explores what might have been if major designs had found their way from the drawing board to construction and explains why they weren’t.  The event will take place in the Landmark Auditorium and is followed by a reception. Tickets at unitarianmeetinghouse.org

Saturday, June 6

9:30 – 12:00 or 1:00 – 4:00 -BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE MEETING HOUSE: A TOUR.  Have you ever been curious about what’s behind the closed doors in the prow, loggia and the B-Wing? Have you ever wondered how the auditorium was constructed and what keeps it standing?  Now’s your chance to learn the details.  This tour is led by Rainer Dronzek, Friends Vice President and Preservation Committee Chair. Tour tickets are limited, so sign up for yours now at unitarianmeetinghouse.org.

Sunday, June 7 – An all free day

11:30-12:30 – REHABILITATION OF THE UNITARIAN MEETING HOUSE – 75 YEARS OF EFFORT is presented by Charlie Quagliana, consulting Preservation Architect at the Landmark building for almost 40 years.  His talk focuses on the recurring problems the building has experienced and of the many preservation efforts undertaken to keep the building standing.  From apprentices to church volunteers, structural engineers,  contractors of every stripe and union workers of all sorts, it has taken groups from Madison and beyong to keep it going.  Event in the Landmark Auditorium. FREE

1:00-4:00 MADISON COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE – The public is invited to explore select  spaces of the building for free.  If you or someone you know has always wondered about the sensational building on University Bay Drive, now’s the chance to learn more.  Volunteer guides will be stationed around the building to provide stories and commentary on this architectural gem hidden in plain sight.  Visitors will learn why the Meeting House is revered internationally as an icon of church architecture and its relationship with Frank Lloyd Wright, one of America’s greatest architects.  FREE