MADISON, Wis. (July 8, 2019) – On Sunday, July 7, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) named eight Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings to the World Heritage List. The additions include two sites in Wisconsin: Taliesin in Spring Green and the Herbert and Katherine Jacobs House in Madison.
“The UNESCO designation of not one, but two Frank Lloyd Wright buildings in Wisconsin speaks volumes of our state’s architectural heritage,” said Tourism Secretary-designee Sara Meaney. “Wisconsin’s connection to Wright’s work is undeniable. Wright designed much of his iconic work at Taliesin in Wisconsin, including Fallingwater and the Guggenheim Museum. We’re also excited to see the Jacobs House on the list, as it is the embodiment of his vision for a new type of architecture accessible to every American.”
UNESCO recognizes landmarks or sites for having cultural, historical, or scientific relevance throughout the world. Also included in the recent World Heritage designation are Fallingwater in Pennsylvania, the Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Hollyhock House in Los Angeles, the Robie House in Chicago, Taliesin West in Arizona and the Unity Temple in Illinois.
The newly inscribed Wright sites are one of only 24 World Heritage sites in the U.S., and the only listing of modern architecture in the country. The inclusion of Taliesin and the Jacobs House also marks the first UNESCO sites inscribed in Wisconsin.
Taliesin, which is part of Wisconsin’s Frank Lloyd Wright Trail, served as Wright’s estate and studio. Visitors to the trail can tour the 800-acre estate, which includes six Wright-designed structures and the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center.
