The Gordon House by Frank Lloyd Wright. Silverton, OR.
The Gordon House was designed by Wright in 1957 for Conrad and Evelyn Gordon, a gentleman farmer and his wife who lived on the south side of the Willamette River near Wilsonville. Construction was completed in 1964 and the Gordons lived there for over 30 years.
Following their deaths, their descendents sold the property to another couple in 2000. The new owners loved the site, but wanted to build their own “dream house” there. So the Gordon House had to go.
Fortunately, a third party stepped in and negotiated a last minute reprieve. In January 2001, the owners agreed to donate the house to the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy as long as it was moved off the property by March 15th. A tight deadline, but the house was successfully dismantled in time and moved 24 miles south to the Oregon Garden. Once there, it underwent a complete restoration and was dedicated as a public museum in March, 2002.
Frank Lloyd Wright is world-renowned for his “timeless” building designs. The Gordon House is no exception. For a farmhouse built almost 50 years ago, it has the “feel” of a brand new upscale urban home. Built of red cedar and cinder blocks, the house has over 2000 square feet of living space with distinctive design features and amenities that make this former residence a work of art.
The Gordon House is located at 869 West Main Street in Silverton, OR. Guided tours are available, but are conducted in between the many special events held here. So, if interested, you must register beforehand. No registration, no guarantee you’ll get inside the house. For more info and a “sneak peek” at the interior, please check their website.
For directions and a map, check here.