Field trip to see the Wright stuff

Chris and Stephanie at Falling Water

Stephanie was among a group of students from Hilliard Crossing Elementary School who went on a field trip last week to visit two houses in Pennsylvania that were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Her mom, Cathy, and brother, Christopher, drove separately and met the students at both locations.

Stephanie is in the 5th grade "focus class" and the trip included all 4th and 5th graders from that gifted-student program.

Cathy writes: "Throughout the school year they studied structures and architecture, so this trip gave them a chance to see some of what they had studied in person."

"Apple Core,"
sculpture by Claes Oldenburg

The first stop was Kentuck Knob. "This house was built atop a ridge overlooking the western Pennsylvania landscape. Before touring the house, we walked through its modern-art sculture garden."

"The house itself incorporates hexagons in many ways into the shapes of the rooms, skylights and even the kitchen.

"Next we traveled a short distance to tour Falling Water -- perhaps Wright's most famous design. This house sits overlooking a waterfall. Like Kentuck Knob, the house was designed to incorporate much of the surrounding scenery.

"Upon visiting both houses, you can see many similarities in their designs. Even though Chris and Stephanie had visited both locations before, they still enjoyed another visit.

"In between the two stops Chris and I stopped off in Ohiopyle, Pa., for a brief look a the Ohiopyle Falls. This is the small town that I visited numerous times in my youth with my family. It still looks much the same as it did back then!"

See more of Cathy's photos from the trip: