New England
Best Modern House Museums in New England
In a region known for traditional American architecture, these modern house museums prove New England has futuristic flair, too.
By Yankee Staff|Nov 12 2019|
The Zimmerman House in Manchester, NH | Modern House Museums
Credit: Currier Museum of ArtModern House Museums in New England
The Zimmerman House in Manchester, NH | Modern House Museums
Credit: Currier Museum of ArtCredit: Currier Museum of Art
The Zimmerman House in Manchester, NH | Modern House Museums
Credit: Currier Museum of ArtCredit: Currier Museum of Art
The Zimmerman House | Manchester, NH
Given that Frank Lloyd Wright was born in and lived much of his life in the Upper Midwest, it’s not surprising that Wisconsin and northern Illinois have the lion’s share of publicly accessible Wright buildings. In all of New England, there is only one — but it’s a beauty. The Isadore J. and Lucille Zimmerman House in Manchester, designed in 1950 for a local doctor and his wife, is a model of Wright’s “usonian” home: a spare, single-level building that seems to emerge quietly and organically from the landscape. Wright not only oversaw the palette and materials for both the exterior and the interior but also designed all the furnishings within. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, the house came under the stewardship of the Currier Museum of Art after the Zimmermans passed away. The museum now offers a variety of guided tours of the house, including a series of charming “twilight tours” that feature a live musical performance in the Garden Room. Open seasonally. Advance registration required. Tours start from the Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester, NH. 603-669-6144; currier.org
The Glass House in New Canaan, CT | Modern House Museums
Credit: Neil Landino Jr.Credit: Neil Landino Jr.
The Glass House | New Canaan, CT
“I have very expensive wallpaper,” architect Philip Johnson once joked about his iconic Glass House, built in 1949 on his 47-acre property in New Canaan, Connecticut. While its shape is a simple cube, the single-story, 1,815-square-foot structure makes a dramatic architectural statement thanks to its floor-to-ceiling glass exterior. Inside are Johnson’s own possessions — he lived in the Glass House as well as the neighboring Brick House until his death in 2005 — including furnishings designed by Mies van der Rohe and a number of pieces of fine art (among them a 17th-century painting chosen specifically for the house by Alfred H. Barr Jr., the first director of the Museum of Modern Art). The property, which is now owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is dotted with a dozen other modernist structures designed by Johnson, many of which are included on the various tour options. Open seasonally. Advance reservations highly recommended. Tickets for self-guided tours and a variety of guided tours available via the Glass House Visitor Center and Design Store, 199 Elm St., New Canaan, CT. 866-811-4111; theglasshouse.org
Gropius House in Lincoln, MA | Modern House Museums
Credit: Historic New England
I found the articles about art museums in New England! Thanks!
The Frelinghuysen and Morris house is an outstanding property. It’s one you’ll want to return to again and again.