Wingspread, Racine County, WI

Wingspread is located at the center of the Wind Point peninsula, a triangle outcropping in Lake Michigan north of Racine. The landscaped grounds, which cover about 12 acres (4.9 ha), are an important component of the architectural experience, with a landscaping plan designed by Wright in the style of a prairie setting.

A long winding drive leads to the home from the north. It is made up of a central core and four lengthy arms radiating from it. The wings were initially divided into four sections, each housing a separate function: parents’ wing, children’s wing, service wing, and guest wing, with the public spaces in the center. The hub is shaped like a dome, with clerestory windows on the sides and a viewing platform at the top.

The home was constructed between 1938 and 1939. It was built under the supervision of a young John Lautner. Wright’s corporate customer, Herbert Fisk Johnson Jr., commissioned Wright to design the Johnson Wax Headquarters Building in Racine, which was completed around the same time. The house is one of Wright’s largest, at 14,000 square feet. It was also one of Wright’s most expensive home designs, and it was the last of his Prairie School-inspired projects.

The land was granted to The Johnson Foundation in 1959 as an international educational conference center by the Johnson family. In 1975, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and in 1989, it was declared a National Historic Landmark.

Tours are also arranged and are available to the general public to get to see the inside of this historic place. In Racine county, it is one of the must-visit places.