House on the Rock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids House on the Rock |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Modernism |
| Address | 5754 WI-23 |
| Town or city | Spring Green, Iowa County, Wisconsin |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 43°06′00″N 90°08′10″W / 43.10000°N 90.13611°W |
| Construction started | 1945 |
| Completed | 1959 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Alex Jordan Jr. |
The House on the Rock is a super cool place to visit near Spring Green, Wisconsin. It opened in 1959. It's a huge collection of unique rooms, streets, gardens, and shops. Everything was designed by a person named Alex Jordan Jr..
Contents
The Story Behind the House
Some people tell a story about how the House on the Rock got started. It involves Alex Jordan Jr.'s father, Alex Jordan Sr., and a famous architect named Frank Lloyd Wright.
A Possible Rivalry
The story says that Alex Jordan Sr. once showed his building plans to Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright supposedly told him he wasn't a good designer. Jordan Sr. was very upset. On the way home, he pointed to a tall rock and said he would build a "Japanese house" on it. He wanted to advertise it and show Wright what he could do.
Some people believe Wright never forgot this. They say he even complained about the house Jordan was building. Wright also bought land nearby, perhaps to get back at Jordan.
Is the Story True?
The House on the Rock's official website and a book by Tom Kupsh question this story. Here's why:
- The building Jordan Sr. supposedly showed Wright was designed by someone else.
- Both Alex Jordan Jr. and Sid Boyum (who told the story) would have been very young at the time. Frank Lloyd Wright was much older.
- Wright was working in Japan during those years. He might not have been in Spring Green.
- The first agreement for the land was made much later, in 1953. The house didn't open to the public until 1960.
So, it seems the story might be more of a legend than a true event.
Exploring the House and Its Wonders
The main "house" sits on top of a huge rock called Deer Shelter Rock. This rock is about 60 by 70 feet (18 by 21 meters) on top and 200 feet (61 meters) tall. Over many years, more buildings and additions were made to the original house.
Amazing Collections and Rooms
Today, the House on the Rock has many cool attractions:
- The Streets of Yesterday: This area looks like an old American town from the early 1900s.
- The Heritage of the Sea: Here you'll find nautical exhibits. There's a giant 200-foot (61-meter) model of a whale-like creature fighting a Kraken.
- The Music of Yesterday: This room has a huge collection of old automatic music machines.
- The World's Largest Indoor Carousel: This carousel is truly massive! It has 269 carousel animals, 182 chandeliers, and over 20,000 lights. Hundreds of mannequin angels hang from the ceiling. It was built in 1981, but you can't ride it.
- The Infinity Room: This room is super unique! It sticks out 218 feet (66 meters) from the main house without any supports underneath. It has over 3,000 windows.
During winter, the House on the Rock gets a special Christmas theme. It's decorated with lots of Christmas items and a huge collection of Santa Claus figures. Even some bathrooms are decorated with interesting objects like mannequins and preserved animals!
The Early Buildings
The first buildings, like the House on the Rock itself, the Gate House, and the Mill House, have a style that reminds some people of Frank Lloyd Wright's work. These early parts of the house feature exposed stone, low ceilings, dark wood, and old antiques.
How the House Grew
Alex Jordan Jr. sold the house in 1988 to a friend. This friend continued to add to the collections and exhibits. These exhibits include real items, copies, and specially made pieces. A newer addition is the "Alex Jordan Jr. Center." This museum tells the story of Mr. Jordan's life and how he built the amazing complex.
A writer named Jane Smiley visited in 1993. She wrote that the House on the Rock draws more visitors than almost any other place in Wisconsin. She also mentioned how overwhelming the sheer number of objects can be. She described the collections as very inviting, but also noted that the house could be dusty and some items were damaged. She felt it was more about collecting lots of things than about teaching visitors.
The Truth About the Collections
When you visit the House on the Rock, you'll see many amazing things. Some of these items are real antiques, but many others are not. They are often replicas or creative pieces made to look old.
Real or Re-created?
The people who run the House on the Rock say that figuring out what's real and what's re-created is part of the fun! Many items were actually built by Alex Jordan and his team. One of Jordan's helpers, Bob Searles, said they were focused on creating entertainment, not on being historically accurate. They just wanted to make a fun place.
For example, the "Phelps Car" in the Streets of Yesterday was made by Bob Searles using an old carriage and motorcycle parts. Searles said they could make any "antiques" they wanted. Alex Jordan sometimes bought real antiques, but he often preferred a good copy if it cost less.
What Happened in 1978?
In 1978, a former employee raised concerns about some of the claims made about the collections. For instance, some "Tiffany" lamps were actually made by another company. After this, the House on the Rock changed its brochures and removed misleading signs. However, the exhibits kept their colorful names, letting visitors imagine what they wished.
Today, the House on the Rock is more open about the nature of its exhibits. For example, their website mentions that all the armor in one collection was made specifically for the House on the Rock. Before 1978, brochures sometimes claimed items were genuine antiques when they were not.
Even some of the musical instruments are a bit of an illusion. Some play real music, but others, like the string and woodwind instruments, don't. Their sound actually comes from hidden organ pipes, while the instruments themselves just move to trick visitors.
A Timeline of the House
- Around 1945: Alex Jordan Jr. started blasting the rock to create a flat area for building.
- 1952: An electric hoist was installed to help with construction.
- 1959: The House on the Rock officially opened to visitors on Labor Day.
- 1961: The "Gate House" was built.
- 1962: A magazine article helped make the house a popular tourist spot.
- 1968: The "Mill House" opened. It was the first room to feature many curiosities and antiques.
- 1971: "The Streets of Yesterday" opened, showing an old American town.
- 1974: "The Music of Yesterday" exhibit opened.
- 1978: The "Red Room" opened.
- 1981: The "Organ Room," Carousel Building, and the "World's Largest Carousel" opened.
- 1985: The amazing "Infinity Room" was built.
- 1990: "The Heritage of the Sea" exhibit opened.
- 1991: "The Octopus' Garden" was added to the Heritage of the Sea.
- 2008: Two new buildings were added: the Welcome Center and the Alex Jordan Jr. Center.
The House in Pop Culture
The House on the Rock has inspired many artists and musicians.
- Author Neil Gaiman used it as an important place in his 2001 novel American Gods and the 2017 TV series based on it.
- The 2017 film American Fable shows parts of the house, like the carousel and Infinity Room, in a dream scene.
- The 1997 10,000 Maniacs music video for "More Than This" was filmed at the House.
- The 2019 Raconteurs music video for "Somedays (I Don't Feel Like Trying)" was also filmed there.
There's also a nearby place called the House on the Rock Resort. It's connected to the House on the Rock. In 2004, a presidential candidate, John Kerry, used part of the resort to get ready for a debate.
Images for kids
-
Automated musical instruments, operated by inserting tokens. Some instruments play, while others are synthesized.
-
The Infinity Room juts out 218 feet from the House on the Rock, without supports underneath. The room has over 3000 windows.
-
The House on the Rock Carousel
-
Heritage of the Sea exhibit at House on the Rock
-
Red Room exhibit at House on the Rock
