Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026
Registration: Open (View Pricing and Register)
Frank Lloyd Wright was one of the most influential architects of the 20th century. During his 70-year career, he was responsible for the design of over 1,000 structures, including offices, churches, schools, skyscrapers, hotels, and museums. On this day trip, you will see two very different approaches taken by Frank Lloyd Wright. First, at Polymath Park, there are two homes designed for typical middle-class families. After lunch, tour his famous masterpiece, Fallingwater—a custom estate built exclusively for a wealthy Pittsburgh couple.
Polymath Park
The tour visits two historic homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright that have been relocated here from their original location. There are also two houses built on-site by his apprentice, Peter Berndtson, that will not be visited. Both Frank Lloyd Wright homes were designed in the Usonian style, meaning they are affordable and reproducible and feature small, single-story dwellings without a garage or much storage. The R.W. Lindholm residence, dubbed Mäntylä (meaning “under the pines” in Finnish), was built in 1952 and was relocated from Cloquet, Minnesota, in 2018. The Donald C. Duncan house, built in 1957, was a prefabricated Usonian home relocated from Lisle, Illinois, in 2004.
Fallingwater
Fallingwater is one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most widely acclaimed works, best exemplifying his philosophy of architecture: the harmonious union of art and nature. This may be most evident by the fact that the house is constructed over a waterfall. Fallingwater was built for Liliane and Edgar J. Kaufmann, owner and director of Kaufmann’s Department Store in Pittsburgh, as a weekend retreat. It was eventually donated to the Western PA Conservancy for all to enjoy. The home’s furniture has simple geometric shapes, and Wright designed most of the house’s built-in furniture. Many pieces of art are placed throughout the house, in addition to objects including textiles and Tiffany glass.
Itinerary
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 6:30 a.m. | Bus departs from Fullington Trailways, 2101 Alexander Drive, State College (near the State College Regional Airport). Free parking is available for the day. There will be a short comfort stop (Sheetz) part way through the trip. |
| 9:30 a.m. | Arrive at Polymath Park, 187 Evergreen Lane, Acme. Shuttles take the group from the parking area to the houses. Group will be divided into groups of 14 people. |
| 10:00–11:00 a.m. | Tour of the two homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. |
| 11:30 a.m. | Board bus for drive to Twisted Spoke Café, 144 Grant St., Ohiopyle. |
| 12:15–1:45 p.m. | Lunch (included) at Twisted Spoke Café in Ohiopyle. Guests will preorder from several options with accommodation for those with food allergies. |
| 1:45–2:00 p.m. | Drive to Fallingwater, 1491 Mill Run Road, Mill Run. |
| 2:00 p.m. | Arrive at Fallingwater. Unload and load at the Visitor Center. The group will be divided into groups of 14 people. |
| 2:30–3:30 p.m. | Fallingwater tour followed by time to visit the gift shop. |
| 4:00 p.m. | Depart for State College. There will be a short comfort stop (Sheetz) part way through the trip. |
| 6:45 p.m. | Arrive at Fullington Trailways, State College. |
Accessibility
Wheelchairs and walkers cannot be accommodated on this excursion.
At Fallingwater, there is considerable walking during the tour, beginning with a quarter-mile walk from the visitor center to the house. In the house, there are numerous staircases and once the tour begins, there is no place to sit down. A shuttle service to and from the house is available for all those who have difficulty with the walk. Fallingwater is not air conditioned.
Tour Rules
- Cross-body-style handbags larger than 10x10x3 are not permitted on interior tours.
- Backpacks of any size are not permitted on these tours.
- Although cameras may be carried on all tours, the camera bag cannot go inside the house. Interior photos are permitted on the first floor. The iconic view is one of many outside picturesque options.
- Food and beverages are not permitted on interior tours. Clear, plastic water bottles no larger than 20 ounces are permitted.
- Fallingwater is a carry-in/carry-out facility. We ask that you take your trash with you when you leave.
At Polymath Park, photography, painting, and sketching are not permitted at any point during regular guided tours. Exterior photography, painting, and sketching is permitted only for personal use and may not be sold or used for commercial purposes.
Cost Per Person
Member pricing: $195
Nonmember pricing: $220
Cost includes: bus transportation, guided tour at Polymath Park, lunch, guided tour at Fallingwater.
Not included: Additional expenses accrued on your own (stop at Sheetz, gift shops) and gratuities for guides.