Thomas, Frank, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1901 at 210 Forest Avenue in Oak Park, this house was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for grain merchant James Rogers, who gave it to his daughter Sue and her husband Frank Thomas as a wedding gift. Neighbors nicknamed it "The Harem" because of its arched entrance and hidden entrance stair. It was one of Wright's first designs without a basement, with service rooms on the ground floor and the main living spaces one story above grade. The nomination calls it the first design Wright actually built in the Prairie Style. Notable features include broad overhangs, low-pitched roofs with built-in gutters, casement windows, art glass, and a strong horizontal emphasis. It is described as a direct predecessor of the 1908 Robie House. Tallmadge and Watson remodelled it in 1924, replacing the original stucco with wood shingles. It sits at the south end of Forest Avenue, Oak Park's most important street of Wright-designed residences.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is the first design Wright actually built in the Prairie Style, following his 1901 published design "A Home in a Prairie Town." Its pioneering features include broad overhangs, low-pitched roofs with built-in gutters, casement windows and art glass. It is described as a direct predecessor of the 1908 Robie House.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 72000455, listed September 14, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 210 Forest Ave., Oak Park |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | September 14, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000455 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1901 |
| Architect / builder | Frank Lloyd Wright (architect); Tallmadge and Watson (1924 remodelling) |
| Architectural style | Prairie Style |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in fair condition and altered; described as threatened by nearby multi-family buildings and zoning allowing 14 apartments on the lot. A later grant record covers roof and porch repairs. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Within district | Frank Lloyd Wright-Prairie School of Architecture Historic District (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 41.89113, -87.79673 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 72000455.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5489939
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.