Constructed between 1902 and 1904 for Susan Lawrence Dana, a widow of considerable means, this house is larger than any Wright had built previously. Originally planned as a remodeling and expansion of the client's existing house, it grew to include thirty-five rooms, three of which are two stories high: the gallery, dining room, and reception hall. Located just south of the state capitol and the governor's mansion, the house is one of the most decorative of all of Wright's early buildings and completely incorporates the client's earlier Italianate house into its Prairie style brick structure.

Susan Lawrence Dana continued to own the house until the 1940's but did not occupy the house after 1928, living instead in a smaller house nearby. The house and its belongings along with all her personal effects were auctioned over four days in 1944. She died in 1946 at the age of 83.

Thomas Publishing bought most of the furniture and the house, using it for offices until 1981 when it was purchased by the State of Illinois for $1 million. The purchase price included one hundred pieces of original furniture and hundreds of stained glass panels as well as the house and grounds.

photographs © jhd-designz

Location: 301 East Lawrence Ave., Springfield, IL 62703
Dana-Thomas House Historic Site is owned by the State of Illinois.
Due to state budget cuts, the Dana-Thomas House was closed
on 12/1/2008 until further notice.

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The Little House window design is Copyright © 1998 The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, Scottsdale, AZ.

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