House on the Rock

It only seems fitting that my first "attractive attraction" to discuss is my all-time favorite: The House on the Rock--an incredibly unique "museum" that is more of a collection of collections than anything.

It is located in Spring Green, Wisconsin. It opened in 1959.  These we know for certain. What is more ambiguous is the origins of this house.  Apparently, architect and designer Alex Jordan, Sr. met with Frank Lloyd Wright to discuss a particular house, and Mr. Lloyd Wright responded, "I wouldn’t hire you to design a cheese case for me, or a chicken coop."  While the legitimacy of this meeting is often debated, some feel that son Alex Jordan, Jr. built the House on the Rock to spite Lloyd Wright.

The original "House" sits on the top of Deer Shelter Rock in the middle of a fairly-forested region.   It, the Mill House, and the Japanese Flower Garden all have an Asian style mixed with a touch of Frank Lloyd Wright's organic style.

 Japanese Gardens

Over the years, however, the site has expanded to include a number of rooms and buildlings, each with their own unique themes, including the "Streets of Yesterday," "The Heritage of the Sea," "Music of Yesterday," "Spirit of Aviation," and rooms that feature doll houses, circus models, and at Christmas, a huge collection of Santa Claus figures.  The House also features the world's largest indoor carousel as well as quite a few of automated musical instruments.

Streets of Yesterday

One of my favorite places in the House is the "Infinity Room" that sticks out 218 feet from the side of the House with 0 under supports! You can walk fairly far out into the room (though not completely to the tip obviously), and as there are over 3000 windows, you feel like you're walking on air!

Infinity Room

Today, in addition to the attraction itself, the complex site also features lodging, spa, and golf areas. Even in terms of visiting the House, you can choose whether to see certain sections or, as I would recommend, take the "Ultimate Experience." This visitor's package includes 4 tokens for the automated machines and allows you to visit all areas of the House at your own pace.

If you plan to visit, however, I should warn you that there is a LOT of walking involved! It is a very large site and even just walking through the gardens can be tiresome for some.  Furthermore, some sections are not wheel-chair accessible, though the staff (as I have encountered them) are very friendly and are willing to assist with alternate routes.  Also, some spaces are rather confined, dark, and/or loud....so those who are sensitive to these may find some rooms troublesome.

Carousel in Action

Overall, this attraction is actually pretty hard to describe because of its diversity.  As a history teacher, I like to work in mentioning the House on the Rock on occasion, but it's hard to grasp for someone who has never been there.  A couple of my students did a project on it, however, where they had to create their own society--and it was completely set in the House on the Rock.  This seems appropriate as the rooms of the site span a number of eras, cultures, and esthetics. 

Mill House

Ultimately, if you are looking for a straight-forward museum, this is not going to be something you enjoy at all.  If, however, you want to see diverse architecture, interesting artifacts, and an eclectic collection of...well, you name it, this is the place for you!

Here's the official website for more information. 

And, while I went several times when I was a child, I was able to re-visit a few years ago, so here are links to my pictures and videos:

Album 1
Album 2
Album 3
Album 4