the gordon house

Frank Lloyd Wright designed only one house in Oregon, the Gordon House in Silverton. It's a short drive from Salem and well worth visiting at any time of the year. The house is stunning and tour guides are most informative. The house was moved to it's present location block by block, and a most interesting video which documents the move can be viewed after a leisurely tour. It was originally stated for demolition. Anyone interested in modern architecture and/or specifically Frank Lloyd Wright designs should not miss this treasure. I believe it is the only building that Wright built in the Pacific North West.

What a treat! What a gem to have this historic house, now a museum, as part of the Oregon Gardens. The house is a piece of art with a very interesting story behind it. I highly recommend a tour The Gordon House, especially if you have any interest in architecture or engineering. As a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright this was a huge treat for me.

If in the area make this a priority, even if you are not an architecture historian. You will learn about Frank Lloyd Wright and his wonderful attention to detail and utility. Our guide was knowledgeable and welcoming; answering questions clearly and happily.

The Gordon House is located just outside Silverton adjacent to the Oregon Garden and Resort. You must make advance arrangements (in the morning for the same afternoon in our case) to tour the house, but it is well worth the $20. Built by Wright for a gentleman rancher on the Willamette River, it was moved by a conservancy organization to the present location to prevent it's destruction by new owners of the ranch (thoughtless!). The style was called Usonian by Wright and focused on open space, natural light, and bringing the outdoors inside. Amazingly detailed wood ornamentation, floor to ceiling glass door/windows, and a closed off high-ceiling kitchen are all appealing. A truly unique piece of architecture thankfully preserved with it's original components, furniture, and appliances. A well-informed volunteer explains some unique features, that we now take for granted, that originated with Frank Lloyd Wright. How the house was disassembled and moved is also a fascinating story. Visit the Gordon House in the afternoon after wandering through the Oregon Garden in the morning--a perfect day enjoying nature and it's incorporation into our daily lives.

The house was very interesting as a fine example of the brilliance of the man. The docent was very knowledgeable and happily answered everyone's questions.

The Gordon House is the only Frank Lloyd Wright house in Oregon. In 1956 Conrad and Evelyn Gordon commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright to design a house for their farm on the Willamette River in Wilsonville, Oregon. Construction was completed in 1964 after the death of Wright so he never had the chance to visit the finished house and design furniture for it like he did for other homes he had designed. This house style is known as "Usonian" which are characterized by horizontal lines, open floor plans, gravity floor heat, and cantilevered roofs.The Gordon House is 2,133 square feet including both floors. The living room, dining area and library are all a part of one large space. There is a lot of windows so there is a lot of light. There are many examples of Wright's work throughout this home. There is a lot of storage space in all areas. In 2000 the Gordon heirs sold the Wilsonville property. The new owners wanted to build a larger house so the agreed to donate the Gordon House to the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy. In agreement with The Oregon Garden in Silverton, Oregon in March 2001 the house was moved and reconstructed. In March 2002 it was opened to the public.There is an hour tour that is well worth taking. You will learn a lot about Wright and the Gordon House. Make a day of it, visit the Oregon Garden and the Gordon House. If you are interested in Frank Lloyd Wright and love seeing a beautiful garden this trip cannot be beat.

My husband and I were visiting the Oregon Gardens on Saturday and decided to stop by the Gordon House. It looks very interesting from the outside. There is a lot of glass, so you can see a lot on the ground floor just by peering in. However, it would have been nice to get inside, and in fact, the sign on the door said hours open till 3 pm. We walked around the house looking into the windows and noticed two different people inside who carefully avoided looking at us, one sitting looking at his computer. They had the "closed" sign on the front door and locked it even though it was well before 3 pm on a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon. Why have volunteers be present and posted hours if you're not going to welcome in visitors? It's not even like we wanted a guided tour -- it's quite a small house and looks like it would be easy to self-tour. In fact $15 for an hour "guided" tour honestly seems like it would be overkill. I would think this place could earn some easy money by simply having the house open during the advertised hours and looking for donations of a few dollars of cash for people wishing to wander through.

The Gordon house is the only Frank Lloyd Wright house in Oregon. It is a very interesting story on how Mr. Wright worked with the Gordons to design the house at the advanced age of 88. The house itself is pretty small and while you are welcome to wander the house after the tour you most likely will not feel the need.The price is a bit steep at $15.00. If you have stayed at the Oregon Gardens Resort the price is $10.00. You need to book a reservation for a tour. However if you find yourself in the area and want to drop by they will add you to a scheduled tour if there is room.

For any fan of the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright, I recommend a visit to the Gordon House. The format for touring has changed over the years but any opportunity to see Oregon's only example of Wright's work is not to be missed. It's all about the details. His work, as demonstrated here, is all about space utilization and simplicity of design...his design. Don't miss the opportunity to see a design master's work.

Please see my review under Oregon Garden. Did not know there was a separate entry for The Gordon House.

Being from Chicago we have seen many of Mr Wrights designs. This was our first look at his Usonian design. Very typical Wright design, geometric shapes all with a strong sense of order. Much of the furniture is built in so it remained with the house. As with Wrights other homes this was built for a specific site looking over the Willamette river. It was moved here to save it. The site has similarities to the original site and the house points in the exact same direction as Wright planned.The tour is quite informative and it may be that we enjoy seeing his work that made it that much more worthwhile.The tour is $15 or $10 if you have a AAA card.

Were visiting Oregon Gardens and really wanted to see this house. Unfortunately, were not able to get inside but exterior is in and of itself a fantastic experience. The detail and lines of the home of exquisite.

The tour was $15 and worth every penny. The Gordon House was moved from another location at one point. It is an awesome setting very near Silverton, Oregon, among native trees and the orientation of the house is exactly as originally planned. The guide is knowledgeable and answers any questions. You have to take your shoes off, so bring an extra pair of socks!

Having recently visited Fallingwater over Memorial day weekend, we couldn't not visit this Wright home just a short drive away from Portland. Luckily on Jun 21, 2014, it was an open house day in celebration of Frank Lloyd Wright's June birthday. We were greeted by very knowledgeable and helpful guides who answered our every question re: the home. There was coffee, tea and cupcakes in the Usonian kitchen which made it an even more welcoming atmosphere. The story of how the home was dismantled and re-built was quite impressive and all who visit should be so thankful the project was undertaken and completed successfully. It stands today as an example of Wright's mastery of simplicity of form, achieved only with his astounding attention to precision and detail.

My first trip to the Portland area. I visited Oregon Gardens and then discovered the Gordon House, Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian house model was celebrating his birthday. As an architectural buff, I love touring homes but this was more than a tour. Through the friendly and informative guide Mr. Wright came to life as she told us about his life, his money habits, his style of living, his wives. We never felt we took too much of her time. My friend and I sat on the living room banquet (check out the hidden storage spaces when you visit) and the guide said, with a laugh, "Frank Lloyd Wright would have loved to see you girls sitting on the sofa, just as he intended." Adding to the sweetness of the visit, we were served cupcakes and punch. An especial THANK YOU to the outstanding docent who took "good" and turned it into "great". A winner, all the way around.