Middle School
Worksheets
Wisconsin's House on the Rock
One of the most unique architectural tourist attractions in Wisconsin is the House on the Rock. It is located atop a 60-foot column of rock called Deer Shelter Rock in Spring Green, Wisconsin. The rock is 70 by 200 feet on top.
One story about the house says that Alex Jordan designed the house after a meeting with the famous architect and Wisconsin native Frank Lloyd Wright. Jordan drove out to Wright's home in Spring Green to show him plans for a women's dormitory that he was designing for the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He showed Wright his design for a building called the Villa Maria. Reportedly, Wright looked at the plans and said, "I wouldn't hire you to design a cheese crate or a chicken coop. You're not capable."
This comment greatly offended Jordan. On his trip back home he pointed to a tall rock and told his friend, "I'm going to put up a Japanese house on one of those pinnacle rocks and advertise it." The house was designed in part to spite Wright for his unflattering comment to Jordan. It was supposed to be designed as a weekend retreat. It was several years before he started building, but he accomplished his goal.
