Pennsylvania Travel Guide 2008 - (Page 4) P E N N S Y LVA N I A T R AV E L GUI DE FALLINGWATER IN AUTUMN. about the cover FALLINGWATER IS FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT’S masterpiece and one of the most famous homes in the world. People who know little about modern architecture are fascinated with the Laurel Highlands home, and thousands make pilgrimage there to see it for themselves. The story is simple: Edgar Kaufman, a department store owner in Pittsburgh, wanted to build a residence on his country land in the Laurel Highlands – his family’s favorite spot with a view of a spectacular waterfall. Wright surprised everyone by designing a house that extends out of the hillside and waterfall, instead of locating it on the overlook where the family had expected it to be. Wright once said that, “you can hear the waterfall when you look at the design”; he even diverted part of the stream to flow through the house. It is the location that evoked the name, Fallingwater. PITTSBURGH CELEBRATES ITS Despite warnings from an engineering firm that the house would eventually collapse, Wright convinced Kaufman to move forward anyway; he defied any preexisting architectural creations and built a cantilevered structure with windows that turned a corner without a post, among other unique elements. We chose an image of Fallingwater for the 2008 Pennsylvania Travel Guide cover as an introduction to the yearlong celebration commemorating the 250th anniversary of Pittsburgh. Over its 250250 ANNIVERSARY. year history, the city has been reborn numerous times. It has lived as an industrial powerhouse and now as a center for new technology. As an architect of Pittsburgh’s first life, Andrew Carnegie (18351919) embodied the American dream. The immigrant from Scotland became the king of steel. Dubbed a “Captain of Industry,” he also knew a thing or two about life. He professed that wealthy men owed their riches to the societies where they became prosperous, and so Carnegie donated millions to the Pittsburgh area. His quote on the cover exemplifies his philosophies about success and achievement. The 250th anniversary celebration is a reminder of the achievements of Andrew Carnegie and all those who wrote the extraordinary history of Pittsburgh. Their spirit of invention and reinvention can be seen in aggressive revitalization projects that have helped The “Steel City” restore its rivers, urban neighborhoods and architectural heritage. On the cover: A view of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater in Mill Run. Photograph of Fallingwater courtesy of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. 4
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