b. harley bradley house

MNSZC5

Frank Lloyd Wright designed home with a history. Tour was interesting and informative. Nice reasonably priced gift shop on property with friendly, helpful staff. Toured with family and they enjoyed as well.

LeeHanover_Ontario

My husband and I were staying in Kankakee for a night on our trip down south. I wanted to tour a Frank Lloyd Wright house and this one offered one hour tours in the afternoon that we were there. Cost is $15.00 each which helps maintain the home and pay the mortgage. The tour guide was friendly and informative. I was disappointed that the house was not furnished but still enjoyed seeing all the features that Wright put into this home. We were told that the Wright home in Springfield does have some of his furniture designs so we will also visit that one as well. The setting of the house is right on the river which is nice to see. There are great gift options in the gift shop based on Wright designs. If you want to see a Frank Lloyd Wright home, this one has some very nice features to see.

jammer24too

Decided to take a detour on my way to Chicago and arrived just in time for the last tour of the day. The tour covered the entire mostly restored house which has many cool It also included much interesting history of the family that it was built for. Our docent was very knowledgelable as was a young aspiring architect who was on the tour. This is a beautiful spot on the banks of the Kankakee River. The house is considered to represent the beginning of Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie School period and has many beautiful features. Definitely a must for Wright fans.

Penelope5466

Kankakee is unique in that it holds one of the best of the Frank Lloyd Wright designed homes. Although this house may not be on everyone's top list among his unique designs, anyone touring the home and its setting must agree that it offers a beautiful and homey atmosphere for family life. Also, besides being meticulously restored, the house carries a varied and interesting history that is worth exploring. A final feature is that it sits alongside another of Wright's homes which is still privately owned. Come to Kankakee by boat, train, car, or plane and take in this attraction. It's well worth the trip!

AnthonyT129

From Rick M, Board President. We're surprised that calls during open hours were not answered as there are at least two volunteers during scheduled tour times. At other times the part-time Director is the only staff available. He recognized your name and recalls leaving a voicemail response. we are sorry that did not connect. Thank you for this alert. The volunteer team has a major challenge developing funds to pay for the total restoration. The Executive Committee now has a plan to seek more volunteers so more calls will have a live answer and response to messages.

rajunc

This was my second visit to the Bradley house but it was a lot more comprehensive than the first visit. Out docent Laura, was very knowledgeable and very enthusiastic about this house, not just the architecture but the history of the house as far the families and chronology were concerned. The Bradley house is tucked away in a beautiful neighborhood along the Kankakee River. The house has been restored to its original state (for the most part) and is not to be missed. If you are a fan of Wright, or any architure, this house is extremely important and must be seen.

regalpat

We visited the Bradley house and took a one hour tour. The docent was very knowledgeable and the tour was very worthwhile. The house is beautifully restored and one of the most beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright homes we have visited.We learned the home was built in 1900 and is the first prairie style home that Wright designed. There is also a Wright home next door but it is not open to the public. Would recommend a visit. The gift shop has some nice items for purchase.

K3bour

Great example of Wright's work - First Prairie Style Home - restored back to original state - beautiful for an event or party or wedding! In nice part of Kankakee and great view of the River for the second floor- tour is very well done and great bargain- around $12 per person - Very Nice Gift Shop with one of a kind itemsEasy drive from Chicago or suburbs -

nickh665

I'm not a huge Wright aficionado, but it is a nice place to see. I'm not really giving the house a three-star rating, it has to do with it being in Kankakee. I'm not really sure I would make a special trip just to see it. That being said, I have known people who (as part of a Wright tour) have made the trip to Kankakee just to see this house. If you happen to be in Kankakee and want some sight seeing, then go ahead and enjoy, it is right on the river. And while you're in the Riverview historic district, you can take a trip around and see some historic homes.

phaynes58

Our lawyer use to have his office here but now they host artist exhibits and I believe you can get a tour of the house. Well worth going to see if you love seeing architect from days gone by.

Jsleos

For those of you in the Chicagoland area who only associate the name Frank Lloyd Wright with Parks (both Oak and Hyde), the B. Harley Bradley House in Kankakee is a great way to get acquainted with the architectural great. Kankakee's downtown area neighbors the Riverview Historic District (where the Bradley House is located), and a solid afternoon can be spent visiting the House and area museums (the French Heritage Museum is definitely worth a stop). TIP: Definitely take the tour! This should not be a drive-by experience! For $15 you get a very well-informed and intimate tour that totally trumps the Chicago-area Wright tours.

riverview641

The wright home is a must see. we stayed a Riverview Guest house b&b around the corner, which is in Riverview Historic District.

empjm

Restored Frank Lloyd Wright house built in 1900 and still looks fresh and livable today. As other reviewers have pointed out, there is little original furniture but the house itself has been well restored. Quite an achievement for this town since the carraige house to this home was slated for demolition just a few years ago. For travelers, it is an easy stop off of I-57 and for locals it is a must see. Many of the locals will remember this in its previous life as the Yesteryear restaurant which closed in 1983. FLW buffs will enjoy this as one of his earlier works and one of the first of his Prairie style. He was only 33 when he designed this house and its neighbor. (a privately owned house, not open for tours) One hour tours are available Friday-Sunday for $15. Most tours I suspect will be private or close to it as I don't think they get a lot of traffic. Make sure you take the short drive along the river south of the house in the Riverview district to see some very nice homes that you may not expect from Kankakee. The gift shop has some very nice FLW items also.

hortgirl

This home has been lovingly restored, with Conservancy guidelines met. The location is a pleasant residential corner on the Kankakee River, with ample parking.There are a number of original pieces of furniture in the home, but some rooms contain stridently misplaced office furniture and pieces from the home's days as a restaurant. In all it is well worth viewing. Be sure to call first; the tours are done by volunteers.

kmalmberg1

Wow what a beautiful FLW home! My mom and I were the only two on the tour! I am so glad that this home was restored and now open to the public. Our guide was knowledgeable and clearly had a passion for FLW architecture and the house. He drives from Chicago once a month to give tours and spend time in the house.I hope over time they they will be able to raise the money to add reproduction furniture and additional art glass. It is worth the drive to this area to see this wonderful architectural history!