An American Legacy

Make your way to the historic Roycroft Inn in East Aurora, New York. In the afternoon, meet your Frank Lloyd Wright Trust trip leaders and fellow guests in the lobby. Depart the hotel on foot for an in-depth tour of the Roycroft Campus, an art colony designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1986. The tour ends at the Roycroft Museum, where you will have time to view the excellent collection at leisure. Tonight, get to know your fellow travelers at a festive welcome dinner featuring a lecture by architect and Wright scholar Pat Mahoney.
The Roycroft Inn | Dinner

After breakfast, depart for a full day of sightseeing. Join Architectural historian Martin Wachadlo for an overview of downtown Buffalo’s architectural riches, including Louis Sullivan’s magnificent Guaranty Building and Ellicott Square by Daniel Burnham, as well as the historic H.H. Richardson Complex.

Arrive for lunch and an in-depth tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie-style masterpiece, the Darwin Martin Complex (1903-1905). The unique design, which includes the main house, Barton residence, gardener’s cottage, a carriage house, and a conservatory, has been restored to its former glory: A bold expression of Wright’s powerful vision for a new American architecture. Return to the Roycroft Inn. The evening is at leisure to enjoy al fresco dining on its atmospheric veranda, and excellent restaurants in East Aurora’s quaint historic downtown are just a short walk.
The Roycroft Inn | Breakfast, Lunch

Join Pat Mahoney to see more of Buffalo — including the Fontana Boathouse, constructed in 2007 on the shores of the Niagara River according to Wright’s 1905 design, (considered to be a prototype for Wright’s iconic Robie House in Chicago) and a 1930 revision; the Blue Sky Mausoleum, based on Wright’s 1928 design for the Martin family; and the Wright-designed Buffalo Tydol Filling Station at the Pierce-Arrow Museum, for which he was the chief project architect. Also see the museum’s extensive collection of historic automobiles with owner Jim Sandoro.

After lunch, take an in-depth VIP tour of Graycliff ― the summer estate Frank Lloyd Wright designed for the Darwin Martin family ― with Mahoney, who devoted over 25 years to oversee its restoration. Built between 1926-27 on a 70-foot cliff overlooking Lake Erie, Graycliff represents a transition between Wright’s Prairie style and his later work in concrete, such as Fallingwater.

Our tour concludes at the Graycliff Visitors Center, recently built and designed by HHL Architects and architecture firm SITU. Enjoy cocktails and dinner overlooking Graycliff, set against the magnificent backdrop of Lake Erie. Return to the hotel.
The Roycroft Inn | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Check out of the hotel to see more of Wright’s work, including exterior visits to the William Heath House (1904-1905) and the Walter V. Davidson House (1908), located in a historic section of Buffalo designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.

Our journey concludes with a group transfer to Buffalo Niagara airport. Our estimated arrival time is 12:30 pm
Breakfast

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Daily Itinerary subject to change.