In this episode of True Tales From Old Houses, Stacy and Daniel return to Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright's winter hideaway and experimental desert lab in the Arizona desert. They swap stories from their trip, including nighttime escapades under the stars, a gift shop that seriously impressed, and a rare peek inside the archives, where Asian art and architectural treasures are waiting to be discovered. They also dive into the quirky, communal lifestyle Wright fostered at Taliesin West and share how visitors today can still experience its one-of-a-kind charm.
Later, Daniel and Stacy sit down with Fred Prozzillo, the Nord McClintock Family VP of preservation and collections. Fred has a special connection to Taliesin West as a former architecture fellow. Fred offers an insider's perspective on what it was really like to live and work on-site and discusses the complexities of preserving a place that may not have been built to last. Together, they explore why Frank Lloyd Wright's daring designs and unconventional ideas continue to captivate architects, historians, and old house enthusiasts worldwide.
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Sutherland Welles - Maker of exceptional polymerized tung oil finishes since 1965. To save 10% on your first order, use the coupon code truetales.
The Window Course from Scott Sidler of The Craftsman Blog - Learn everything you need to know to restore your wood windows. For 10% off The Window Course, use the coupon code truetales.
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Mentioned in this Episode
- Buy the book - The Case for Historic Windows: The Truth About Energy Efficiency and Old Windows by Stacy Grinsfelder and Scott Sidler
- Learn more about the Wood Window Workshop at Silver Lake (July 2025)
- Taliesin West Photo Scrapbook: Behind-the-scenes photos
- Ep 140: Behind the Scenes at Taliesin West (Pat Evans)
- Book: The Fellowship: The Untold Story of Frank Lloyd Wright and the Taliesin Fellowship by Friedman and Zellman
- Book: Tales of Taliesin by Cornelia Brierly
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