Architecture Getaway: House On The Rock & Taliesin

We’re celebrating Independence Day with Shasta this year on a weekend Architecture getaway. Our destination? Dodgeville, Wisconsin!

Day 1: Waterfalls at Governor Dodge

Our weekend getaway kicked off at Governor Dodge State Park as storm clouds gave way to an incredible sunset. We hiked in to Stephen’s Falls as the last few hikers were heading out. As mist emerged around the base of the woods, the falls took on an ethereal quality. Surrounded by cliff walls and tall trees, we took in the sounds of rushing water from the falls above into the bubbling pool at our feet.

As we exited the woods, we delighted in the smattering of vibrant colors permeating the sky as the storm front passed through. We grabbed a few more shots before setting up basecamp in Twin Valley campground.

Day 2: House on the Rock

After a good night’s sleep, we were excited to visit the House on the Rock. On our way in, we stopped for a quick breakfast at Cobblestone Coffeehouse in Dodgeville. This quaint cafe brings a flair of French country to the dining experience with delicious cold brew and baked goods. We sampled both the Thai Mango Scone and Peach Almond Coffee Cake. Highly recommended!

An Eclectic Collection

We found plenty of room for RV parking as we pulled in at the House on the Rock. From ornate Japanese gardens to epic music boxes and incredible architecture, this museum has it all. We were blown away by the breadth and depth of this awe-inspiring collection.

Opened to the public in 1960, Alex Jordan built this retreat on top of Deer Shelter Rock. Highlights of this masterpiece included room scale music machines, fascinating models, historic artifacts and art pieces.

Jordan’s Mad Genius

Each room in this retreat exposes a deeper view into Jordan’s mad genius. Within the The Heritage of the Sea exhibit, for example, you’ll find a 200 foot model of a whale-like sea creature chomping on a boat.

You’ll also find a HUGE collection of functional automatic music machines in the Music of Yesterday exhibit. These token-operated machines range from furniture sized to full room scale.

We marveled at the famous hand-carved carousel, which is referenced in Neil Gaiman’s American Gods. Although this carousel features 269 animals, you won’t see any horses here. Surrounding the carousel, you’ll find chandeliers and hundreds of mannequin angels hanging from the ceiling.

Back to Camp

Once we finished touring the museum, we grabbed dinner at Freddy Valentine’s in Spring Green. John ordered the Fish & Chipwich, and I tried the Blackened Salmon Wrap. After being on our feet all day, these flavorful sandwiches hit the spot! We wandered over to Arcadia Books to pick up some reading materials and headed back to the campsite to get some sleep.

Day 3: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin

The next morning, we checked out of our campsite and drove to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin. Sitting on 800 acres of rolling countryside in Spring Green, this dedicated National Historic Landmark served as Frank Lloyd Wright’s home, school, farm and architectural innovation lab. Wright resided at Taliesin for almost 50 years.

House Tour

We opted to take the house tour, which started at the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center and lasted roughly two hours. At a whopping $54 per person, the walking tour breaks the bank. However, our docent was incredibly knowledgeable and all proceeds support ongoing preservation of the property.

During this tour, our guide shared the history of structures, furnishings, art, gardens and courtyard. You’ll find his signature style and attention to detail throughout the entire property–including both the barns and livestock areas! Frank Lloyd Wright drew inspiration from the landscape and designed everything to fit in accordingly.

Plan Your Own Architecture Getaway In Dodgeville

Interested in taking this trip yourself? Here are a few helpful resources:

• Governor Dodge State Park – Camping Information
• House On The Rock – Resort, Attraction & Inn
• Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin – Tours