Samara - The John & Catherine Christian House

04/22/2026

We anticipated sharing the latest realization of Frank Lloyd Wright’s plans at Samara at the start of this season, but the year is beginning a bit differently than we expected.

Samara is open for the 2026 season with its floors fully uncovered! Due to unexpected delays, our new carpet is not yet installed, giving visitors a limited-time chance to see the house with its original concrete floors fully visible. Complete installation of the new carpet is anticipated before July.

Tours are now available. Reservations are required to visit and can be made through our website. samara-house.org/events/



📸: Nathan Allaire, 2026. View of Living Room, View of Primary Bedroom, and Close-up of Fireplace.

03/31/2026

Samara was honored to be represented at the 2026 Wright Site Directors Summit at Wingspread. We are grateful to be part of a community working together to preserve and advance Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy.

Leaders representing about 30 buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright that are open to the public gathered at The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread, March 16-18, for the Wright Site Directors Summit. Co-hosted by the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy and The Johnson Foundation, this convening brought together the people responsible for the stewardship and operation of these landmarks with the opportunity to share best practices and discuss solutions to challenges that they have in common. Inaugurated in 2014 and taking place every other year since 2022, these gatherings play a key role in strengthening the Wright community and supporting the long-term preservation of these important cultural assets.

https://savewright.org/the-johnson-foundation-at-wingspread-hosts-2026-wright-site-directors-summit/

03/24/2026

Due to an unexpected construction delay, tours at Samara are canceled from our original opening date, Wednesday, April 1st, through Thursday, April 16. This pause will allow us to ensure construction is completed properly and on a faster timeline.

All tickets for affected dates will be fully refunded. If you have already booked, no action is required. However, you will need to sign up for a new tour through our website.

We appreciate your understanding and look forward to welcoming visitors back soon.

03/02/2026

🎉 Scheduling for the 2026 tour season is now live! Tours of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Samara, The John and Catherine Christian House, will run Wednesday through Sunday starting on April 1st. Book your tour now at samara-house.org/events. We can’t wait to see you!

📸 1974, Samara Archives
[View of Samara living room and East-facing windows]

Indiana Landmarks co-stewards Samara with the John E. Christian Family Memorial Trust.

01/14/2026

🎥👀 Did you know that in 1955 the Christian family of West Lafayette, Indiana, documented the construction of their Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home in 16mm home movies?

Working with Frank Lloyd Wright on the design of the house, named Samara, was a thoughtful, measured process spanning several years. John and Catherine Christian first reached out to Wright in early 1950, and while he agreed to take on the project, the Christians wouldn’t receive the final plans for their home until spring 1955. By that point, the couple had provided Wright with photographs and a topographical map of their lot in the Hills and Dales subdivision of West Lafayette.

Construction of Samara took about 18 months, beginning with the delivery of bricks on March 14, 1955, and concluding with the Christians moving in on September 7, 1956. Home movies narrated by Dr. Christian himself capture the entire process, from the laying of masonry walls to the installation of copper radiant heat pipes and the pouring of concrete floors and patios. And, true to home movie tradition, there are plenty of waves to the camera by the family.

➡ More than 70 years later, Dr. Christian’s footage of Samara’s 1955 construction is available online for the first time. Head over to the Samara blog to take a rare look back in time: https://www.samara-house.org/the-1955-construction-process

📸: Samara under construction, 1955. Courtesy John E. Christian Family Memorial Trust Archives.

11/14/2025

Join our dynamic team of volunteers in West Lafayette at the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Samara, co-stewarded by the John E. Christian Family Memorial Trust and Indiana Landmarks. Volunteers play a vital role welcoming guests, leading tours, and maintaining the property’s unique landscape. No special knowledge or experience is needed and training is provided. Apply by January 31, 2026.

📸2025, Nathaniel Allaire. Samara Front Gate.

https://www.samara-house.org/volunteer/

11/14/2025

11/10/2025

👀 Have you seen it yet? There's still time to join one of our public tours of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Samara in West Lafayette before it closes for the season on November 23.

One of the most complete Frank Lloyd Wright homes in the United States, the house offers visitors a rare and immersive opportunity to experience Mr. Wright’s fully realized Usonian design just as if they were guests of the family.

➡️ Reserve your spot: https://www.samara-house.org/events/

Indiana Landmarks co-stewards Samara with the John E. Christian Family Memorial Trust.

📸: Nathaniel Allaire

Samara - The John & Catherine Christian House

10/23/2025

Join Us in Attica for a Lively Presentation!
📅 Monday, September 27th, at 6:30 PM
📍 The Old Church, 304 E. Main St., Attica, IN

Discover the genius of Frank Lloyd Wright in “Frank Lloyd Wright: Innovator and Architect,” a lively presentation by Kat Braz exploring Wright’s seven-decade career, his influences, and his enduring philosophy of organic design.

✨ Free admission for all who are interested!
Hosted by Fountain County Landmarks.

📸: Samara Exterior, Alexander Vertikoff 2012

10/05/2025

To everyone who’s reached out with concern about our recent tree situation — Thank you for your support!🙏

Here’s the latest update from the Lafayette Journal & Courier on the tree incident at Samara: “Rotted tree, not tree trimmers, damaged Samara.”



https://www.jconline.com/story/news/local/2025/10/03/rotted-tree-damaged-frank-lloyd-wrights-samara-house-in-west-lafayette/86475439007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z116760p118950c118950e000200v116760b0067xxd116765&gca-ft=159&gca-ds=sophi