Frank Lloyd Wright's Allen House, Wichita

The Allen House, also known as the Henry J. Allen House or the Allen-Lambe House, is a Prairie Style residence. This architectural gem was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1915 for Henry Justin Allen, the former Governor of Kansas, and his wife, Elsie.

Notably, the Allen House represents one of Frank Lloyd Wright's later Prairie House creations. The design is a captivating fusion of Prairie and Japanese architectural influences, with Wright concurrently working on the Imperial Hotel project in Japan during this period. This fusion is evident in both the exterior and interior elements of the house.

What sets this forward-thinking house apart are its modern conveniences, which were cutting-edge for its time. These included a central vacuuming system, an advanced alarm system, and the use of gas fireplace logs. Furthermore, the Allen House featured an innovative element: the incorporation of the first residential firewall, with bricks that contained iron, lending the exterior a distinctive rust color.

Today, the Allen House is under the care of the Allen House Foundation and operates as a museum, overseen by the Wichita Center for the Arts. Recognizing its historical and architectural significance, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 7, 1973.