Dana, Susan Lawrence, House
Why it's listed
Susan Lawrence Dana House at 301 Lawrence Avenue in Springfield, Illinois, is a large residence designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1902, with a separate library connected by a glass-enclosed gallery and added in 1905. Wright built the new house around the family's earlier home, which stood on the lot, and demolished the old structure as work proceeded. He preserved one room from it, and the original basement and foundation walls remain. The exterior combines buff Roman brick, a limestone base, brown terra cotta on the second story and low tile-covered gabled roofs. Stained glass appears throughout, with geometric patterns drawn from prairie plants. Inside, a two-story stair hall holds a statue by Richard Bock, and a two-story dining room contains fine glass and chandeliers. The house is regarded as one of Wright's grandest from his Oak Park period and as an important architectural monument. It keeps much of its original furniture and shows early design features Wright later abandoned.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the finest early designs by Frank Lloyd Wright and one of the country's most important architectural monuments. It retains much of its original furnishings and furniture. It also records early design elements Wright later dropped, and it displays the decorative design and sculpture of Wright and Richard Bock.
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 74000774, listed July 30, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 301 Lawrence Ave., Springfield |
|---|---|
| County | Sangamon County |
| Listed | July 30, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74000774 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1902-06 |
| Architect / builder | Frank Lloyd Wright (architect); Richard Bock (sculptor) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated January 7, 1976 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent and unaltered, on its original site; marked as occupied and used as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.79417, -89.65136 (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 74000774.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5214650
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.