Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House

Buffalo is full of grand mansions, but Wright’s Martin House contrasts dramatically to the Queen Anne, Victorian, and Gothic Revival styles that dominate the area. Many visitors will find the style surprisingly contemporary—guided tours tell you why that is, plus other fascinating tidbits. You can only enter the house on a tour; choose from the standard 75-minute tour; a more in-depth 2-hour tour; and occasional 1.5-hour evening tours. You can explore the grounds on a self-directed audio-guide tour.

• Most areas visited on the 75-minute guided tour are wheelchair accessible, but not on the longer tour.

• Tours include walking, standing, and stair-climbing, so aren’t ideal for travelers with limited mobility.

• All tours are in English, but handouts can be provided in a range of languages.

• The on-site Statler Café is open to the public and tour ticket holders.

The Martin House is on Jewett Parkway, in a residential area of Buffalo. The nearest bus stop is on the corner of Jewett and Main Street, a few minutes walk from the house. Most travelers prefer to self-drive, and there is some free street-side parking in the surrounding area.

The house is typically open for tours every day, from mid-morning until late afternoon; it’s closed on Tuesdays in winter. There are sometimes evening tours on Thursdays. Other events are held occasionally, such as author talks, book signings, and concerts, and the times vary. The website has a calendar of events that is helpful for planning purposes.

The Martin House isn’t the only building in Buffalo designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The Graycliff Estate on the shore of Lake Erie was also built for the Martin family. You can request a tour. Some other structures were built from his designs after his death: the Fontana Rowing Boathouse on the Niagara River, the Blue Sky Mausoleum in the Forest Lawn Cemetery, and the Filling Station in the Pierce-Arrow Museum.