As soon as I read Sheila Scarborough’s blog post at The Perceptive Travel Blog about The Rosenbaum House, I looked to see if there was any way we could include it in our coming trip to Orlando.
You see, I adore Frank Lloyd Wright. I’ve been blessed for the past 10 years or so to be able to look out my window and see his only skyscraper, The Price Tower, located in Bartlesville, OK. We’ve since moved to Tulsa and I needed a Frank Lloyd Wright fix!
I learned that the Rosenbaum House, located in Florence, Alabama, was just a little out of our way so we made plans to go see it.
The house is, in a word, AWESOME! Designed for the Rosenbaums by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1939, the house is very identifiable as one of his designs. After falling into disrepair,the house was sold to the City of Florence in 1999. The sale was based upon the understanding that the house would be restored and used as a museum.
The renovation cost $750,000! And it’s gorgeous.i
The house is made of cyprus wood that is screwed together and was originally around 1500 square feet. The Rosenbaums had four sons and eventually another 1000+ square feet were added giving the family a dormitory for the boys and a new kitchen for Mrs. Rosenbaum.
Mrs. Rosenbaum, a former model in New York, was also a talented piano player and weaver. Some of her work can be seen in her weaving room. It’s beautiful.
The house is one of Wright’s Usonian houses, houses he designed for America’s middle class. There is an incredible amount of built in storage although the house – to two largish people like David and I – seems very small. I felt very tall in it. 🙂
There are also 140+ recessed lights.
The windows are screened with bronze screens and the bedrooms all have access to the outside.
This was a fabulous stop for us. I get so excited to see Frank Lloyd Wright’s work, which I admire and makes my heart happy. There is a small charge for the tour which takes about an hour. I can’t recommend you visit highly enough. So if you find yourself in or near Florence, AL be sure to stop by!
