Winslow, William H., House And Stable
Why it's listed
Built in 1893 at 515 Auvergne Place in River Forest, Illinois, this house and its companion stable were the first independent commission of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The stable, or garage, was designed and built at the same time and is closely coordinated with the house in design and site. The building has a rectilinear form, a wide overhanging roof and a porte-cochere on one side, originally for carriages and now for automobiles. Its well-integrated ornament recalls the work of Louis Sullivan, in whose office Wright had trained. The nomination describes it as the high point of Wright's early work in what became the Prairie School, and as one of the most outstanding first commissions by any architect. Only one alteration is recorded: a screened rear porch was enclosed in keeping with the original design. The property was described as in superb condition and carefully maintained, and it sits on about three-tenths of an acre.
Significance in brief: It was Frank Lloyd Wright's first independent commission and is described as the high point of his early work in what became the Prairie School. The nomination calls it the foremost exponent of that style and notes it has been cited in countless publications over about 80 years.
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 70000242, listed April 17, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 515 Auvergne Pl., River Forest |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | April 17, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000242 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1893 |
| Architect / builder | Frank Lloyd Wright |
| Architectural style | Prairie School |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in superb condition and meticulously maintained; the only alteration is an enclosed rear screened porch. The form marks it as occupied. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.88857, -87.82885 (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 70000242.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2395397
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.