B. Harley Bradley House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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B. Harley Bradley House and Stable
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 701 S. Harrison Ave., Kankakee, Illinois |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1900–1901 |
| Architect | Frank Lloyd Wright |
| Architectural style | Prairie School |
| Part of | Riverview Historic District (Kankakee, Illinois) (ID86001488) |
| NRHP reference No. | 09000374 |
| Added to NRHP | June 2, 2009 |
The B. Harley Bradley House is a special home in Kankakee, Illinois. It was designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright and built between 1900 and 1901. This house is a great example of his unique "Prairie School" style. It's known for its long, low lines that look like the wide-open prairies of the Midwest.
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What is the B. Harley Bradley House?
The B. Harley Bradley House was built for B. Harley Bradley and his wife, Anna Hickox Bradley. Anna was the sister of Warren Hickox, whose house was right next door. Both houses were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The Bradley House is often considered one of the very first homes built in Wright's new Prairie School style. Another house, the Willits House in Highland Park, Illinois, also built in 1901, is another contender for this title.
Who was B. Harley Bradley?
Harley Bradley came from a family with a successful business. His grandfather was a local manufacturer who made tools for farming, like plows. This family background helped provide the money to build this amazing house.
What does the house look like?
The Bradley House is very large, covering about 12,000 square feet. This includes the main house, a basement, and a stable that is connected to the house by a covered walkway called a breezeway. Today, you can take tours of the house to see its unique design. The stable has even been turned into a gift shop!
What is the Prairie School Style?
The "Prairie Style" is a type of architecture that Frank Lloyd Wright created. He wanted his buildings to fit in with the flat, wide landscapes of the American Midwest, especially the tallgrass prairie. This style often features:
- Long, low roofs that seem to hug the ground.
- Wide, open spaces inside the house.
- Many windows, often arranged in long rows.
- Natural materials like wood and brick.
Special Features of the Bradley House
The Bradley House shows many of these special features. It has long rows of windows and a low-pitched roof. A cool fact is that 82 of the original 90 art glass windows are still there! These windows often have special designs. Wright also designed or chose many of the furniture pieces and decorations inside the house. It's interesting to think that the money used to build this house came from tools that helped farm the very prairie land that inspired its design.
Becoming a Historic Landmark
The B. Harley Bradley House is an important piece of history. It was first recognized as part of the Riverview Historic District on August 22, 1986. Later, on June 2, 2009, it received its own special recognition by the National Park Service and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's officially recognized as a significant historical place.
Images for kids
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The B. Harley Bradley House and Stable
