I recently visited one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s “Usonian” houses-the Pope-Leighey house. Originally, built in Falls Church, Va; it was saved from a highway construction eminent domain bull dozer and moved to the grounds of the Woodlawn Plantation in 1964. Several years later, it was moved again, just a few yards this time, to facilitate repairs to its slab foundation. Usonian houses evolved from Wright’s desire to build an affordable house for the middle-class citizen. Built for a cost of $7000 in 1940, which various inflation internet calculators but at approximately $105,000 2009 dollars.

Fank Lloyd Wright called the houses Usonian, a term that has been attributed to both English author Samuel Butler, and American writer James Duff Law. Although he claimed the style to be American, it arguably resembles modern European designs more closely than it does American houses of the day; and Wright reportedly drew inspiration for some of the Usonian features-slab floors with radiant heat-from Japan.

While you can no longer take pictures of the houses interior, I did find a blog entry from 2003 on Peter Beers’ Road Trip site. Apparently back then you could take interior pictures. Wright also designed and built the furniture for the Pope-Leighey house. To save money the furniture was constructed from plywood!

If your interested in visiting the Pope Leighey house, read about admission, parking, and cost information.