H eadlines
Frank Lloyd Wright-Designed Buildings Abound
on Campus of Florida Southern College
T RAV EL
JEFF AND VIRGINIA ORENSTEIN |
JE FEATURE
Note: We recommend that
travelers follow CDC guide-
lines and check with each mode
of transportation and specific
venue of interest for current
information before traveling.

Before You Go:
• flsouthern.edu/frank-lloyd-
wright/home.aspx • visitcentralflorida.

org/featured/ frank-lloyd-wright-archi-
tecture-at-florida-south- ern-college/
• visitcentralflorida.org/
cities-towns/lakeland/ • franklloydwright.org/
shop. Parking is available
across the street.

Getting There:
DECEMBER 23, 2021
This Destination at
a Glance:
The Frank Lloyd Wright Sharp
Family Tourism and Education
Center on the campus of
Florida Southern College can
be reached by highway, air or
train. A car is recommended to
reach the campus.

Over 50 Advantage: Beautiful
campus, leisurely walking,
impressive architecture.

Mobility Level: Low and
accessible except for a couple
of buildings that have stairs
leading to them.

When To Go: Year-round.

As for most of Florida, May
through September are hot and
sticky but a bit less crowded.

Winters are glorious, especially
November through March.

January can have some cool
days. Where to Stay: Lakeland
has many good hotel choices.

Special Travel Interests:
Wright architecture. l
• By car, the campus is off the
U.S. 98 exit of Interstate 4.

• By air, Tampa International
Airport (TPA) is 37 miles
distant, Lakeland Linder
International (LAL) is 6
miles away and Orlando
International (MCO) is 57
miles away.

• By train, Amtrak serves
Lakeland. The station is a
mile away.

• The nearest cruise port is in
Tampa, 33 miles to the west.

Port Canaveral is 106 miles
to the east.

The largest concentration of
Frank Lloyd Wright buildings
in the world is located on the
picturesque campus of Florida
Southern College in Lakeland,
Florida. From 1930 through 1958, Must-Sees and Dos for
12 structures were built with a Short Trip:
Wright’s guidance on the campus. • Reserve tickets at the Sharp
Wright was contacted by the
Family Tourism Center
college president, Ludd Spivey,
(863-680-4597), and tour
and after a Wright campus
the Wright buildings on the
visit in 1938, they agreed that
campus with a knowledge-
Wright would design the new
able guide.

campus and Spivey would raise • Take a drive around scenic
the funds to build it. A dozen
Lake Hollingsworth, adjacent
buildings were erected out of
to the campus.

the 18 Wright designed and a
13th, the Usonian House, was If You Have Several
built in the 21st century, using Days:
Wright’s design.

• Orlando and its theme
The Wright buildings on
parks are a major nearby
campus are available for public
attraction. tours. If you are in central • Explore Tampa’s museums
Florida, it is well worth your
and attractions, 35 miles
time to drive to Lakeland to
distant. tour this pretty little campus. • The Gulf beaches in
To accommodate visitors,
Clearwater Beach are 68
the college opened the Sharp
miles away.

Family Tourism and Education
Center in 2013. It is located Ginny O’s Tips for
next to the Usonian House, Dressing the Simply
which serves as a tour center Smart Travel Way:
and houses guides and a gift This is not a resort. Resort
10 casual dress for the tour and
dining and touring afterward
are fine.

Jeffrey and Virginia Orenstein
are travel writers from Sarasota,
Florida. This life-sized statue of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright stands in front of the Sharp Family Tourism and
Educational Center next to the Usonian House on what Wright called “The Child to the Sun” campus project he
designed. Photos by Jeff Orenstein
The E.T. Roux Library building (no longer serving as the campus library but converted into other campus
uses) is a typical Wright structure with clerestory windows and light-channeling features.

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