Taliesin West was Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home. Now it is open to the public for tours and also houses Taliesin, The Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Historic Landmark.

Located in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains, Taliesin West is one of the highest-rated things to do in Scottsdale, Arizona. While I knew who Frank Lloyd Wright was and could identify some of his more iconic work, I really didn’t know much about him or his life.

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Taliesin West at a Glance

Location: 12621 N Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd, Scottsdale, Arizona 85259

GPS Address: 12345 North Taliesin Drive, Scottsdale, Arizona 85259

Contact: 480-860-2700 | Taliesin West website

Virtual Tour of Taliesin West: Click here

More about Scottsdale: 2-day Scottsdale Itinerary | Hiking in Scottsdale | Scottsdale Segway Tour

More about Frank Lloyd Wright:

Taliesin and Taliesin West | Frank Lloyd Wright: The Houses | Frank Lloyd Wright Natural Design

About Frank Lloyd Wright and Taliesin West

Established in 1937, this National Historic Landmark is located in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains just outside of Scottsdale, Arizona. Wright lived in Wisconsin at the time but wanted to escape the brutal winters.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West was originally set up as a camp, meant to be taken down after each winter when he would return to Wisconsin.

Taliesin West is an example of Wright’s organic architecture, which is designed to honor the surrounding landscape.  The buildings make use of the local stone and sand and the triangular shapes mimic the mountainous background.

As I learned on the tour, Frank Lloyd Wright was a bit of an eccentric and had a tendency to contradict himself.  He abandoned his organic architecture and opted for a stainless steel bathroom.

Wright was very particular about the design and placement of the furnishings in his projects. He wanted this vase to stay put but the glass behind it was in the way. Instead of moving the vase a few inches to accommodate the glass, he had a hole cut in the glass to accommodate the vase!

How to Visit Taliesin West

To visit Taliesin West, a guided tour is required. There are several options available including the 1.5 hour Insights Tour for $36 per person that we did.  This tour will take you through the grounds and private living quarters of the property.

Pro Tip: Before you arrive, reserve your tour online.  You will save a couple of dollars and be guaranteed your desired time slot.

Taliesin West Tours:

• Insights Tour: 1.5 hours -Daily starting at 9 a.m. – $34 advanced purchase, $36 walk-up
• Panorama Tour: 1 hour – One tour daily at 10:15 – $26 advanced purchase, $28 walk-up
• Night Lights Tour: 2 hours – Offered Friday evenings at 6:00, 6:30 & 7:00 p.m. – $40, reservations required
• Behind The Scenes Tour: 3 hours – Mon, Thur and Sat at 9:15 a.m. – $75, reservations required
• Garden Walk Tour: 1 hour – Wed at 8:45 a.m. (check for availability) – $19, reservations required

Want To See More Of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Work?

If you enjoyed visiting Taliesin West and learning about Frank Lloyd Wright in Arizona, you will want to check out some of his other works:

• The original Taliesin in Spring Green, Wisconsin
• Falling Waters in Pennsylvania
• The Guggenheim Museum in New York City

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