Fallingwater 2012 Season Kicks Off
Fallingwater is open for daily tours, kicking off a 2012 season that includes a range of tour options, lectures and exhibitions, as well as on-site educational programs for people of all ages.
“Each season brings new energy and excitement to Fallingwater,” said Lynda Waggoner, vice president of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and director of Fallingwater. “With every passing season, Fallingwater shows us how great architecture can live in concert with its natural surroundings.”
Guided tours are offered daily, except Wednesdays, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., now through Thanksgiving weekend. Advance ticket purchase or reservations are strongly encouraged.
Visitors may also participate in specialized tours that appeal to a variety of interests. The In-Depth tour provides a detailed view of the house and permits photography as well as access to areas not available on the standard tour. In-Depth tours are available every day that Fallingwater is open at 8:30 a.m. and again at 4:30 p.m. through mid-October.
Visitors who are interested in an even more intensive experience may take part in the Focus Tour, a private extended tour led by a member of Fallingwater’s senior staff. This tour enables visitors to explore their individual interests in Fallingwater with the guidance of staff and includes time to discuss and reflect while dining on its terrace.
Additionally, a Brunch Tour is available on Saturdays and Sundays from May through September, except August 28 and 29. On this tour, participants spend nearly two hours in the house with an experienced guide, followed by brunch on Fallingwater’s covered terrace as Bear Run flows beneath the house.
Fallingwater visitors may also register to attend lectures offered each Thursday at The Barn at Fallingwater beginning May 3 on one of two alternating topics:
Fallingwater Structure: Why Fallingwater Isn’t Falling Down
A discussion of the history of the house, the origins of the architectural and engineering concepts and the architect client relationship provide the opening for this lecture. Then the question of why Fallingwater is not falling down is answered as attendees explore the process of discovering and evaluating the structural issues at Fallingwater and the creative ways of remediating them without compromising the historic significance of the structure or site.
The Art of Fallingwater: The Kaufmann Collection in Context
Spend time viewing the Kaufmann family’s collection of art in the context of their department store and vacation home, Fallingwater. This lecture targets many portions of the Kaufmann Family collection, most of which is on display as part of the Fallingwater experience. Works by Diego Rivera, Mardonio Magaña, Velasco, Easton Pribble, Pablo Picasso, Utagawa Hiroshige and John James Audubon will be shown as part of this art collection retrospective.
Insight/Onsite Educational Experience for Adults
Insight/Onsite is a three-day seminar that combines quiet exploration, group inquiry exercises and lively mealtime discussions to provide participants with a rare understanding of modern architecture from physical, psychological and historical perspectives. Participants will join Waggoner and Fallingwater’s curators for this unique experience.
Because this program is intended to help a small group focus on personal inquiry, Insight/Onsite at Fallingwater is limited to eight people per session. The pricing for this all-inclusive experience is $1,500 per person for double occupancy and $2,000 for single occupancy.
Insight/Onsite is offered:
Tuesday, May 15 through Thursday, May 17
Tuesday, September 4 through Thursday, September 6
Tuesday, September 11 through Thursday, September 13
Guests will reside in on-site lodging at Bear Run Nature Reserve – the 5,500-acre natural area that is home to Fallingwater – in a house that includes four bedrooms, each with a private bath.
In addition, Fallingwater offers a range of on-site educational programs for high school and college students, teachers and adult learners varying in length from three days to a week long. Information about educational programming is available at https://fallingwater.org/142/residencies-and-camps.
Tickets and Reservations
Reservations for tours and lectures are highly recommended. For more information or to purchase Fallingwater tour tickets, visit Fallingwater.org or call Visitor Services at 724-329-8501.
Directions
Fallingwater is located in southwest Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands about 90 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh. The house is located along PA Route 381 between the villages of Mill Run and Ohiopyle. It is approximately 19 miles south of the Donegal exit (Exit #91) of the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) or 10 miles north of US Route 40. For more information, visit Fallingwater.org.
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About the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy:
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) enhances the region’s quality of life by protecting and restoring exceptional places. A private nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1932, WPC has helped to establish ten state parks, conserved more than 232,000 acres of natural lands and protected or restored more than 1,500 miles of rivers and streams. The Conservancy owns and operates Fallingwater, which symbolizes people living in harmony with nature. In addition, WPC enriches our region’s cities and towns through 140 community gardens and greenspaces that are planted with the help of 13,000 volunteers. The work of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is accomplished through the support of more than 11,000 members. WPC is accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. For more information, visit WaterLandLife.org.
Media contact:
Eric Sloss
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
(412) 586-2358
esloss@paconserve.org