Kraus House
Encyclopedia
The Kraus House, also known as the Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park, is a house in Kirkwood, Missouri
designed by architect
Frank Lloyd Wright
. The house was designed and constructed for Russell and Ruth Goetz Kraus, and the initial design was conceived in 1950. Construction continued until at least 1960 and was never formally completed. The owners lived in the house for about 40 years (Ruth died in 1992).
In 1997, the house was recognized with listing on the National Register of Historic Places
of the National Park Service
. Russell Kraus sold the house in 2001 to a non-profit organization formed for the specific purpose of saving it. Title was subsequently transferred to the St. Louis County
Parks Department, which maintains the 10.5 acres (42,492 m²) grounds as Ebsworth Park. The house and park are open to the public by appointment only. Tours are available for a small fee and do not allow pictures to be taken inside the house.
Kirkwood, Missouri
Kirkwood is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,540. Founded in 1853, the city is named for James Pugh Kirkwood, builder of the Pacific Railroad through that town. It was the first planned suburb located west...
designed by architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
. The house was designed and constructed for Russell and Ruth Goetz Kraus, and the initial design was conceived in 1950. Construction continued until at least 1960 and was never formally completed. The owners lived in the house for about 40 years (Ruth died in 1992).
In 1997, the house was recognized with listing on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
of the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
. Russell Kraus sold the house in 2001 to a non-profit organization formed for the specific purpose of saving it. Title was subsequently transferred to the St. Louis County
St. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area wherein the independent City of St. Louis and its suburbs in St. Louis County, as well as the surrounding counties in both Missouri and Illinois all...
Parks Department, which maintains the 10.5 acres (42,492 m²) grounds as Ebsworth Park. The house and park are open to the public by appointment only. Tours are available for a small fee and do not allow pictures to be taken inside the house.