These exclusive two-hour tours explore the architectural significance of Glessner House from attic to basement. Controversial at the time of its completion in 1887, the house foreshadowed the development of modern residential architecture, and architect H. H. Richardson had a profound impact on architects to follow, including Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright. Attendees will see areas not included on public tours as well as objects rarely shown, including Richardson's original sketch of the house.
Glessner House Museum is widely regarded as the urban residential masterpiece of architect Henry Hobson Richardson. Controversial at the time of its completion in 1887 due to its fortress-like exterior and inward-facing plan, the design was lauded by architects for its significance in paving the way for architecture that was distinctly American and forward-thinking. The building influenced generations of architects, including Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright; and later Mies van der Rohe, who called it a "wonderful architectural document," and Philip Johnson, who referred to it as "the most important house in the country to me." The house has been extensively restored and features many of its original furnishings, including those designed specifically for the house and recommended by Richardson, who stated shortly before his death, that of all the houses he designed, this was the one in which he would have most wanted to live.
