Statement on Farnsworth House from Richard Moe, President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation
Posted July 9, 2009 | Contact pr@nthp.org or 202-588-6141
On January 1, 2010, the National Trust for Historic Preservation will assume the management of the Farnsworth House, an international icon of Modern architecture located in Plano, Illinois. While the National Trust has owned the site for the past six years, Landmarks Illinois has managed and operated it. The National Trust is very proud of the Farnsworth House and the work that both organizations have put into the site, and we are determined to do right by it. We expect a very smooth transition for the site, including no change in visiting opportunities, as the National Trust and Landmarks Illinois have been terrific partners for many years, well before our collaboration on the Farnsworth House. Finally, we are delighted that Whitney French will continue as the Site Director by joining our staff and providing us with her experience and knowledge of this unique place.
We look forward to this opportunity because it will strengthen our newly created Modernism + Recent Past program, which focuses on the significant architecture of the mid-20th century, as well as those places of social, economic, and cultural importance. Furthermore, it allows even closer collaboration with the Farnsworth House's "sister" property, the Philip Johnson Glass House (another Modernist site owned and operated by the National Trust). Philip Johnson was inspired in his design of the Glass House by plans Mies van der Rohe developed for the Farnsworth House.
For the long term care and interpretation of the site, it is imperative that the National Trust develop a broader financial base of supporters in the Chicago area and beyond, and we will be working with our friends and family to accomplish this goal. It is also essential that as the National Trust looks to the long term management of the site we consider and develop the most appropriate governance structure.
Plans for this refined focus were underway before the current financial environment, however, the tightening economy has confirmed Landmarks Illinois' need to focus on its core mission. They have decided to focus more fully on being the leading advocate for historic preservation in the State of Illinois and no longer operate historic sites.
I sincerely and profoundly thank the dedicated board of directors and staff at Landmarks Illinois and our generous donors for their tireless work over the past six years to care for and manage the Farnsworth House and share it with visitors from around the world. Our joint efforts began when we heard that the previous owner planned to sell and potential buyers threatened to dismantle and relocate it from its idyllic setting. Working with Landmarks Illinois and John Bryan, we acquired the property at auction in December 2003. Landmarks Illinois assumed the management of the site and immediately hired a skilled, professional staff to plan and implement a six-day-a-week volunteer-guided tour program from April through November. As a result, tens of thousands of visitors from over 40 countries have experienced Mies' masterpiece. Improvements to the Visitor Center made it more attractive and useful, and included a new orientation presentation, resource center, and museum store focused on Modern design and architecture. A disaster preparedness plan was implemented to respond to the increased flooding of the Fox River and other emergencies. Landmark Illinois also worked with the National Trust to secure grants and donations for maintenance, restoration, and interpretation of this site.
Although Landmarks Illinois will no longer manage the Farnsworth House, they will continue to be a vital and essential partner in our shared mission to save places that matter.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately-funded nonprofit organization, works to save America’s historic places to enrich our future. www.PreservationNation.org
