A Wisconsin Hidden Gem: The Frank Lloyd Wright Trail (ft. Susan Kennedy)

The Cabin is presented by the Wisconsin Counties Association and this week we’re featuring Douglas County; https://bit.ly/3s3V29N   The Cabin is also presented by Jolly Good Soda, available in all your classic favorite flavors that we remember from childhood. The diet line offers 0 calories, 0 carbs, 0 sugars, and no caffeine – perfect for mixers or just enjoying on a warm summer day (or any day, for that matter); always Wisconsin-based, you can follow @jollygoodsoda on social for the latest on new flavors, fun promotions, and more. Learn more here; https://bit.ly/3TSFYY4     Campfire Conversation:  Eric and Ana welcome Susan Kennedy from the Taliesin Preservation Society to discuss and follow the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail, which connects 9 sites designed by the legendary architect. We discuss the trail’s creation and the process and then begin on its eastern end in Racine with a look at the SC Johnson Wax headquarters building and the 9-story Johnson Wax Research Tower on the SC Johnson campus just south of downtown Racine. We proceed north to Wind Point to Wingspread, once the Johnson family home and now host to numerous events and tours. The trail heads into Milwaukee to the Burnham Block, a prime example of Wright’s American System-Built Homes concept that he pursued with a goal of making quality single family homes more affordable. We veered slightly off the official trail to explore the Greek Annunciation Church, a Wright-designed church that was one of his last commissions; it opened in the early 1960s. From Milwaukee we make a beeline to Madison for two stops: the first is Monona Terrace, Madison’s major convention center on the shores of Lake Monona. Designed by Wright in the 1940s, one of his next generation students made the design adjustments that allowed Monona Terrace to be constructed and finally opened in 1997. The second Madison stop is the First Unitarian Society Meeting House on the west side of the UW-Madison campus and was for a church Wright attended. From Madison we head west on U.S. 14 to Spring Green and explore the area where Wright lived. His home just south of Spring Green, Taliesin, is by far the most popular site on the trail; tours of Taliesin and tales of its remarkable history bring in people from around the world. Wright’s influence can be seen in Spring Green itself, with numerous buildings adopting his styles. Taliesin looks over the beautiful Wyoming Valley, where another one of Wright’s buildings was constructed as the Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center, which was the only public elementary school Wright designed - and he donated the school and his work for free, in honor of his mother. The final stop on the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail is further west to his birthplace of Richland Center, where the A.D. German Warehouse stands. Wright’s only warehouse design is a four-story brick structure topped by a magnificent concrete frieze that is said to resemble a Mayan temple. The warehouse is an example of early poured-concrete construction, and the building rests on a pad of cork for stability and shock absorption. It is the only remaining commercial structure designed by Wright that still exists from his “organic” or “natural” period. Each of these structures tells a story and, while only 9 of Wright’s 200 Wisconsin works, represent some of his most notable. Along the 200-mile trail are a bevy of cities, towns, parks, and other locations to grab a bite, go for a hike, take advantage of lakes and rivers or just cruise from stop to stop. The Frank Lloyd Trail may be a hidden gem for many, but it showcases some world-famous works and should be on your road trip and exploration list. You can get more details on each designated stop at FrankLloydWrightTrail.org.Susan also discussed with Eric and Ana the new exhibit that recently opened in Madison’s Dane County Regional Airport’s Art Court: “The Frank Lloyd Wright Trail: Places to Live, Learn, Work, an