Rosenbaum House: The history behind Frank Lloyd Wright’s Alabama masterpiece

The Rosenbaum House located in Florence is considered the state’s claim to architecture fame, being the only home in the state designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

It was built in 1940 and is one of the purest forms of the Usonian style. Wright’s goal was to bring function into the American household, shifting away from more ornate styles.

Keep reading to learn all about the Rosenbaum house + how you can visit the property.

The history behind the Rosenbaum home

Stanley and Mildred Rosenbaum were gifted the funds to build on the land by Stanley’s parents as a wedding gift. The couple was given $7,500 to build a home upon the two-acres overlooking the Tennessee River. Today, the presence of trees blocks the view of the river.

The young couple had heard of Frank Lloyd Wright and commissioned him to design their home in Florence. Wright’s designs for the home ending up costing over double what the couple originally planned to spend.

In the year of 1940, the Rosenbaum home was complete. A few years and a few children later, the Rosenbaums decided the home was too small for their growing family. In 1948, the Rosenbaums commissioned Wright once again to build an addition to their home.

The Rosenbaum family lived in the home for over 60 years before selling it to the city of Florence in 1999. The home was opened up to the public almost a year later after undergoing efforts to restore the home to its former glory.

Wright’s vision for the Rosenbaum home

The home designed by Wright was a Usonian style home which brings function, affordability, open floor plans and organic structure into harmony with one another. He decided the home should be practical above anything else, giving the home plenty of hidden storage spaces throughout the house. The house’s storage spaces were created to replace the need of a basement or attic in the home.

When visiting the home, you will notice the dozens of hidden storage spaces placed thoughtfully around the Rosenbaum home.

Wright, even though he never visited the location, wanted to incorporate as much of the natural surroundings into the home as he could.

The building includes many windows and skylights in order to brighten the home with a natural source of lighting. Wright also used materials found in Alabama including cedar and red clay bricks to build the majority of the home.

Wright not only wanted to design the home himself, but he also wanted to design the furniture and decor within the home. Wright thought any outside furniture would do the home an injustice and insisted on the family using his furniture in the exact spots he saw fit.

• Location: 601 Riverview Dr, Florence, AL 35630
• Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10AM-4PM | Sunday 1PM-4PM
• Admission: $10 normal admission, $5 for seniors and those with disabilities

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