Touring the Frank Lloyd Wright House in Kirkwood, Missouri

If you enjoy architecture, history, or finding unique spots in St. Louis, consider adding a tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park in Kirkwood to your plans.

Tucked away on 10.5 acres in Kirkwood, Missouri, this home can be easy to overlook from the road. But once you go inside, you’re stepping into a piece of architectural history.

Frank Lloyd Wright designed this 1,900-square-foot house for Russell and Ruth Kraus. It’s one of just five buildings in Missouri created by Wright.

A Short History of the Frank Lloyd Wright House in Kirkwood

Known as the Kraus House, the home was designed in 1950, and construction started in 1951. The Kraus family moved in by January 1956 and stayed for many years.

Wright designed the house in his Usonian style, which aimed to create practical and beautiful homes for middle-class families. The home has an open living space, a central fireplace, radiant-heated concrete floors, large windows, and natural materials like brick, concrete, and Tidewater red cypress.

*View from the balcony surrounded by trees.*

One of the most striking things about the house is how Wright connected the indoors with the outdoors. Rather than dividing the space into separate rooms, the home flows around a central hearth and opens up to the surrounding landscape.

*Unique glasswork on the front door as you enter the house.*

Taking the Tour

Our visit began with a guided tour led by a friendly, knowledgeable docent. The tour takes you through the entire house and shares insights about Wright’s design and the Kraus family’s history.

The tour lasts about an hour and gives you access to the whole house. Since space is limited, it’s best to reserve your spot ahead of time.

*Unique living space with geometric glass doors*

One of the best parts of the tour is seeing the original furnishings and details that remain in the house. Much of the original design is still there, giving visitors a rare look at a Wright-designed home as he intended.

Notice the geometric shapes throughout the house. Wright used intersecting parallelograms in his design, creating unique angles and spaces that make this home stand out from other mid-century houses.

2026 Tour Schedule

The current 2026 public tour schedule is:

Wednesday-Friday: 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 1 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Tip: Tours fill up quickly, so it’s best to check the official schedule and reserve your tickets ahead of time.

*Take time to explore the grounds and see the home from different angles among the trees.*

Allow Time to Explore Ebsworth Park

After your tour, take some time to explore. The property spans 10.5 acres, and Ebsworth Park is open daily from dawn to dusk. During tour hours, you can drive in, but at other times, park near the entrance and walk in.

There’s a gift shop open during tour hours, offering Frank Lloyd Wright books, clothing, jewelry, and more.

A Special Time to Visit

2026 is a great year to visit. The Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park is celebrating 75 years since construction started in 1951 and 25 years since it opened to the public.

The property recently completed a major preservation project, restoring the roof to its original cedar-shingle look. The house reopened for tours in April 2026.

*The home includes one-of-a-kind artistic features, such as this unique lamp in which parts of it can move.*

*The office, used for some architectural work, includes this large lightboard and angled walls.*

Is the Frank Lloyd Wright House Worth Visiting?

Absolutely. You don’t have to be an architecture expert to enjoy your visit. The house is small enough to tour in about an hour, but there are plenty of interesting details to discover, from the geometric floor plan and natural materials to the original furnishings and the way the house blends with the landscape.

If you’re looking for a unique day trip near St. Louis, the Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park is a great choice. You can walk through an authentic Frank Lloyd Wright home, learn about the family who lived there, and see one of Missouri’s most distinctive architectural gems.

Plan your visit: Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park – Official Tour Information

DETAILS

DRIVE: The house is about a 25-minute drive from downtown St. Louis. Take Interstate 270 to Exit 8 to Dougherty Ferry Road and then go east on it. Next, turn right onto Ballas Road, then look for the entrance road on the left and follow it to the parking area. It’s just south of Dougherty Ferry Road and about 0.3 miles east of I-270.

Admission