Barnsdall Art Park & Hollyhock House

Barnsdall Art Park & Hollyhock House review Rate it

After philanthropist Aline Barnsdall bought this cute little hill during World War I, she engaged Frank Lloyd Wright to build her a group of buildings at its summit. The complex was designed to include a cinema, a theatre and an array of artists' studios alongside Hollyhock House, Barnsdall's proposed home, but it was never completed. Judging by the speed with which Barnsdall moved elsewhere (she left the house in 1927, just four years after moving in), she was no great fan of Wright's work.

When she left Hollyhock House, Barnsdall gave the buildings and the land to the city on the premise that they be used as a public art park. More than eight decades later, the site still fulfils that role, with exhibitions in a variety of different gallery spaces. And following renovation work earlier in the decade, tours of the house are now offered five days a week. Reservations aren't required unless you're travelling in a group of ten or more people.