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Meyer May House

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Sandy Goes
Sandy Goes
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5 out of 5
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Meyer May House

  • January 11, 2008
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Sandy Goes from Staten Island, New York
Meyer May House

Back in Grand Rapids, we enjoyed visiting the Meyer May House, one of the most complete Frank Lloyd Wright houses in existence. I was familiar with the Prairie style of architecture as displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York but have never seen an actual house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. What a treat to experience the wonderful ambiance of this home which was built & commissioned in 1908 for a prominent Grand Rapids Clothier, Meyer May. All of the Wright homes were customized specific to the owners taste. The house was restored by the Steelcase Corp. and opened to the public in 1987. Before viewing the house, a 30 minute film was presented showing the renovation process of this magnificent house. Extensive research was conducted to determine the original building design before restoration began. No details were over-looked in the renovation right down to matching the paint colors and wall coverings. The film was a real eye-opener and laid the ground work for what we were to see once we stepped into the house.
The docent explained how everything in the house works together to create unity and harmony right down to placement of the dining room chairs so that everyone had a "good" seat. Interior of the house emphasized the horizontal line remininscent of the prairie.

I suspect this house is much over-looked as a great place of interest for residents and visitors to Michigan. I truly enjoyed the visit and am eager to visit other Frank Lloyd Wright homes.
The guided tour lasting approximately 45 minutes is free. The docent was entertaining and very knowledgeable.

Museum hours Tuesday-Thursday 10:00 AM -2:00 PM and Sundays 1-5:00PM

(616) 246-4821

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