Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House

What a spectacular place! My family enjoyed hearing about the history of the home and the relationship between Mr. Wright and Mr. Martin and their partnership in building this house. The house has been beautifully restored and is a treasure. Our volunteer guide was so friendly and knowledgeable about the property. We are glad to have gotten a membership and look forward to returning.

I'm giving a 5 star review in spite of the mixed customer service experience. The house is breathtaking and the restoration is magnificent. The history of the house was interesting to learn about. Our docent was obviously knowledgeable and passionate which did make up for the fact that the (shorter 75 min tour) was 15 min longer than it needed to be. The experience with the other staff was mixed, at best. I would think that being in such an incredible environment would make people more...pleasant. If in Buffalo again, I would return. It might be nice to see later in the spring and do the full tour that includes the second floor of the house. Hopefully, the staff will be in better moods.

Great tour! We got to see multiple buildings, and learn about the restoration process. Beautiful complex and grounds, stunning welcome center, thoughtfully curated gift store, friendly, knowledgeable staff.

We last visited the Martin house close to 30 years ago. The were in the middle of a higher renovation at that time. Our return was wonderful! The home is really amazing! Everything is complete repaired to the way it was early in the 20th century. The guide was amazing! He passed on a lot of interesting information on the architect, and home owners. If you visit the Martin House you should also visit Gratcliff, the Martin’s summer cottage. The gardener’s cottage is a perfect suburban home. It would be almost perfect as a contemporary home.

So amazing to have a tour of this treasure. The guide was extremely knowledgeable and the house is simple gorgeous!

The absolute best docent gave us a 2 hour tour of all 3 buildings on Saturday 5/17 at 10am. He was very clearly passionate and incredibly knowledgeable as well.

We booked for the seasonal candlelight tour having been through the property before this gave us another perspective. The guide was very informative and it was relaxed and friendly. It's worth getting there in advance as the Cafe Gift shop and Visitors center are all worth spending time in.

Disappointing Experience – Overpriced and Overbearing I visited this so-called "historic mansion," but it felt more like a heavily guarded private estate than a welcoming tourist attraction. While I understand preserving antiques, the extreme restrictions made the visit unbearable. I didn’t even touch anything—just leaned slightly closer to a wooden table—when a staff member sharply told me to "stay away." The place was crawling with workers, more than actual guests. Instead of offering helpful insights, they seemed like guards, watching your every move. When I tried to step out to the hallway, one worker interrogated me three times: "Have you finished viewing all the rooms?" It felt like a warning—once you leave, don’t bother coming back. To make matters worse, access was severely limited. The third floor, basement, and adjacent cottage were all off-limits, making the high ticket price completely unjustified. For the same cost, you could visit a real museum with far more artifacts, history, and actual educational value. It’s baffling how this is considered Buffalo’s "must-visit" attraction. The overwhelming positive reviews are suspicious—likely fake or paid. Save your time and money; skip this place entirely.

This is an architectural gem of the city! We took the 2 hour tour and our docent, Steve, made the visit special and unique with stories of the property and the design detail. He went out of his way to answer questions from the group and was a wealth of knowledge. Loved the tour

Beautiful historic home in buffalo that is well preserved. My only downside to the tour was how slow it went because our tour guide was older and this older woman that also worked for the museum joined our group and became the gestapo on people in our tour group. Other than that they are knowledgeable of FLW and his works. And the home looked amazing

One of us, the Mrs, is a huge fan of Frank Lloyd Wright's work. Our tour guide were extremely knowledgeable. It is a very interesting home. If you love his work, this is definitely a must place for you to visit especially if you happen to be in Buffalo.

Loved this place. The architecture is incredible! And the attention to detail is immaculate. I highly recommend. Also, the guides were wonderful! I did the two hour tour, and could have stayed for more!

Graycliff is best seen in warmer months but they do run winter tours. We did go inside the home and the views are spectacular. Full of light (as it was designed to do) and FLW furniture. We were allowed to take photos (unique opportunity in a FLW home). Absolutely gorgeous fireplace. Designed to burn logs upright in the Nordic fashion. This home is not filled with art glass. Frank was on a budget but has beautiful water features. Built right on the lake. Must see and not too far from Cleveland, Erie, Buffalo.

I absolutely love the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. Any time we are somewhere and there is one of his properties, we must see it. We brought my mom up to Buffalo and I knew she had to go. It's my favorite Frank Lloyd Wright property. It's so innovative and so cool. I could walk around and pour over every unique architectural element for hours. The art glass windows are by far my favorite. They're so beautiful. The gardens also are so beautiful and well cared for. They have so many different plant varietals. I also could spend hours exploring the gardens and the end of the pergola. Love the gorgeous statue of Nike there too. It's striking when looking towards the end of the pergola. What really makes it? The guides. They're all volunteers but so passionate and knowledgeable about the property, it's legacy and contributions of Frank Lloyd Weight. Phyllis was our guide and she was so knowledgeable and well versed in the house that she was able to answer everyone's questions. They're the real heroes. If you love architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright and flowers or gardening, you must come see the Martin House. Then go down the road and visit Graybill, which is equally amazing.

Martin House is one of Frank Lloyd Wright's best earlier works. It is worth a visit if you are in Buffalo. General tour is 1.15 hrs, $25 for adults and the only way to see the interior. It is mindblowing to learn the original house only cost about $150,000 to construct, but more than $50 million to restore! Our guide, Eileen, was very knowledgeable and friendly.

Today's tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for me. I became aware of the house 60 years ago as a child. Riding my bike to the Buffalo Zoo, I was stopped dead in my tracks by the magnificence of the vacant house with the overgrown lawn on Summit and Jewett Parkway in Buffalo NY. My too-long wait is finally over and I was fortunate to take the 2 hour Martin House Plus Tour today. This is an exceptional value which includes an introductory video documentary in the administration building followed by a guided tour of the restored Martin house, the Pergola, Conservatory, the Barton House, Gardener's Cottage, and the Carriage House. We took advantage of a Senior discount; there are several packages from which to choose. The tours are well organized and carefully designed to provide keen insight into the relationship between FLW and Darwin Martin as well as a birds-eye view of their influence in the world at that time. The docents are very engaging, thoroughly knowledgeable and accommodating to guests. The Gardener's Cottage is available for private catered events. It's very easy to imagine a beautiful bridal shower spilling out onto the garden area. We learned that the horticultural tours are extremely popular in the summer, and not to be missed! I do plan to visit the Graycliff estate of Isabelle Martin in the summer time and take advantage of the beautiful lake views. A thoroughly pleasant adventure for this long-time FLW fan! I would highly recommend a visit to this stunning site!

Stopped here on our way back from Toronto, in an attempt to close out the Frank Lloyd Wright NY stops. I ordered a tour for 10am and we were there with ample time. There is a visitor center where you checkin and upon the start of the tour, a glass screen that projects a welcome video with some background. Probably the most high tech FLLW we have been to. Our tour guide was nice enough - information was good, and of course the house was very nice. I would put this in the top 5 of must-see places along with Taliesin, Robie House, and Fallingwater above it.

I've always been a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright's work, so I was eager to take a tour of Martin House, and I was NOT disappointed! Tip: The duration of the shorter tour is around 1.25 hours. It was a very memorable experience to see this sample of FLW's architecture, and to learn a bit about what went into the creation of this house.  The tour was exceptional, and now I look forward to visiting and touring some other FLW buildings in the not-too-distant future :-)

I don't know how I've managed to be a lifelong Buffalonian without visiting the Frank Lloyd Wright Martin House! My best friend was in town and she had two vouchers for the one-hour tour of the house, so she suggested we go. The tour begins with a short video on Frank Lloyd Wright and Darwin D. Martin. From their, your guide takes you on a tour of the property. Our guide was knowledgeable and kind, and was super to make things a little more fun for a few young kids who were on our tour. The property is BEAUTIFUL. It's truly stunning. It really made me think about the Americanized architectural styles that most houses fall under, and how I wish the Wright style would have carried over more. The windows, the woodwork, everything was just gorgeous. I'd suggest coming in the summertime when the wisteria is in bloom, also because a portion of the tour is outside! If you haven't stopped by this Buffalo landmark, I highly suggest you come in for a visit!

Highly recommend the 2hour tour with Michael Wahl. Wonderful quiet passion about Frank Lloyd Wright and this house. Such an amazing tour due in full to Michael's enthusiasm for the architecture. He is a retired teacher and he made our 8/7/24 tour extremely enjoyable.

The first destination (Day 1, Venue 1) of our Western New York family vacation was Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House Complex in Buffalo. It was my 4th, my wife's 2nd, and the kids' 1st FLW building. Being both history buffs as well fans of interesting architecture, we had pre-ordered the two hour Martin House Plus Tour. Like all FLW tours, it was expensive, but putting it into perspective, it was cheaper than Taliesin West, but more expensive than the FLW Home and Studio in Oak Park, Illinois. The two hour tour included everything on the basic tour (both floors of the Martin House, plus the Pergola, Conservatory, and Carriage House), plus the Barton House and the Gardener's Cottage. Things we liked about the tour included the in-depth history on Darwin Martin and his wife, plus their deepening relationship with FLW. I was also fascinated by the gradual evolution of the Martin House Complex, starting with the construction of the Barton House -Martin's 'test' to see if FLW could do a project within budget- then the Martin House itself, and finally the Gardener's Cottage. My wife especially enjoyed all the art glass windows, while the kids -this being their first FLW experience- loved all of Wright's fine details, like the hidden bookcases in the library room. We were also struck by the Martin's loss of the house due to the Great Depression, and its rapid decline during subsequent decades, including the 1960s demolition of the original carriage house, conservatory, and pergola and their replacement with a pair of apartment buildings! The conservancy certainly did an outstanding job restoring the whole property to its 1907 grandeur! The things we did not like about the Martin House were all operational in nature, like the prohibition on indoor photography or the lack of parking, which resulted in me having to park on the street three blocks away. I also was not wild about the tour minder, aka the staff member at the back of the tour who was constantly hurrying us to keep up with the main guide, when some of us were trying to drink in the details of a particular room or space. Overall, our family absolutely loved touring the Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House Complex, and would be thrilled to return to this Excellent attraction in the future!

Beautiful example of Frank's Prairie style design in Buffalo . Different tours available so check the website. Keep in mind Frank didn't design any of these homes for wheelchair access. However this house does have wheelchair access . The fine wood work and details in this house are beautiful.

As a tour chaperone at the Martin House Complex, I've found dozens of examples of Frank Lloyd Wright's genius. People from all over the world come to see this masterpiece of detail, art glass, materials and manipulation of space and light. Everyone leaves the tours feeling happier and educated about architecture, Buffalo history, and the lifelong friendship between an architect and his client. Don't miss this gem!

A beautiful example of a great architect's work. Interesting biography of the owner of the house too. Although we didn't make tour reservations we were able to wait 30 minutes and take the next tour. Definitely recommend!

If you're a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) then you must visit this house. If you're not a fan you probably should visit anyhow and possibly become a fan. This past winter we attended a seminar that focused on the recently completed landscaping project that was designed to recreate the gardens as they originally were. As stated in their brochure, the Martin House landscape is unquestionably the most comprehensive domestic landscape ever designed and created by FLW. This was done at the end of a $50 million dollar restoration project on the entire property. We took the self guided tour but we should have taken one of the guided tours because you can't go in all of the buildings on the tour we selected. That's what I get for not doing my research in advance! Currently, as with many places during COVID restrictions, you have to purchase tickets in advance. The tour starts in the visitor's center with a short film about FLW and Darwin Martin, who he built the house for. Here you can see designs of the house along with a history of the building process and information about the Darwin family. If I thought I was in awe walking around the grounds, nothing compared to finally walking in the front door. The dramatic view just pulls you in! The wide open spaces, beautiful woodwork, amazing fireplaces, ceilings, and floors. The windows to me were the highlights of the house. Not only beautifully designed but functional. There was light coming in from everywhere. The windows and building are designed to reflect all available sunlight. Then when I though I saw it all we walked into the pergola that connects the house to the conservatory. Stunning! There are several other building on the complex including a carriage house that is now a gift shop, the Barton house which Darwin had build for his sister, and the gardener's cottage. Outside we got to admire the new landscaping along with a visiting art exhibit called The Space Between created by Jun Kaneohe. This exhibit ends Oct 2021. Buffalo is lucky to have a few FLW houses and structures. The FLW Filling Station, Fontana Boathouse, Larkin Building, and Graycliff. Our next stop, Graycliff!

Intriguing. It was restored beautifully. The grounds were well kept. We had a great tour guide (wish I could remember her name). A must see in Buffalo.

We were in Buffalo for only a day and we decided to go to the Martin House as our primary tourist event. It was wonderful! Beautiful summer day didn't hurt. We passed the 20 minutes before our tour began in the courtyard, in the shade of the trees. The house is just spectacular, entrancing. Docent was kind, engaging, and knowledgable. The 75-minute tour was "just right."

On our way from Hazelton wedding, overnighted at Letchworth State Park to see Niagara Falls before NAFE Conference in Ann Arbor...I picked up a flyer at the Letchworth Museum for Martin House & we are blessed to catch the noon, 75-minute, tour (10 minute buffer!) Wahoo!

My appreciation for Frank Lloyd Wright has really evolved this year, and I feel like I'm a different person than I was when I first visited the Martin House, and so I decided to update my review! The Martin House is absolutely "A Jewel on Jewett Parkway." Meticulously constructed at the turn of the century, it exhibits architecture that one would never really see back in the day, and architecture that you probably won't ever see in the future. It is a popular notion that Frank Lloyd Wright's career was funded by the Martin family, who gained their wealth through Darwin Martin's position as Secretary for the Larkin Soap Company. I finally had a chance to take a docent-led tour, and he said something along the lines of THIS house being Frank Lloyd Wright's Opus. And though I haven't been to any other FLW sites outside of Buffalo, it's apparent that there was a lot of time and love put into the design of this house. The house itself has been restored to its former 1907 self, a "Prairie Style" home. Earthy tones throughout the house, combined with the "Tree of Life" glass windows and mosaic designs inside make this home truly at one with nature. There are still a good handful of original pieces throughout the house, though a lot of furniture and structures were lost or destroyed through the years, and replicated in their place. As it sits now restoration is absolutely complete, and what's cool is they finished the gardens/landscaping! If you've visited the house before, I would highly recommend returning to check out this beautiful, newest addition. I only took the hour tour, and I'm honestly kind of regretting not taking the 2-hour. If you have the time to do it, I would definitely recommend it. The amount of detail the docents here go into about every aspect of the house is absolutely incredible. It does my heart good to know that there's an incredibly vast amount of love being put into the care of the home now, far better treatment than it's had since it was originally abandoned by Isabelle after Darwin Martin passed away. Some tips for visitors: - No photography is allowed inside of the house, except for in the Pergola. Photos of the outside are allowed. - Quiet with the cell phones! - Absolutely ask questions, the docents are incredibly knowledgeable! - There are stairs to go up and down throughout the house, so I wouldn't recommend it to people who have a hard time getting around. - You can order your tickets ahead of time or purchase them at the Visitors' Center (though, I recommend buying in advance!) I'm really looking forward to visiting again.

My cousin recently graduated grad school in Buffalo so I took a trip and had some time to sight see. My favorite place I visited in town was Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House. FLR is perhaps America's most well-known architect. He has properties across the country, including his home in Buffalo. I purchased tickets online the night before and visited in the afternoon. Outside the property, there are quite a few beautiful sculptures created by a Japanese artist. They're spread out throughout the grounds so make sure to catch them all! Once you walk inside the building where you check in, you first watch a short video about FLR. Like a museum, there is a ton of information you can read about him before taking a short walk to visit his home. You receive a self-guided tour with information about each room that is part of the tour. With that being said, there are employees spread out throughout the home who are eager to answer any questions you might have. The architecture in his home is beautiful. A lot of symmetry and parallelism. There are also Eastern influences, mostly Japanese, as FLR spent time in the land of the sun. Like Japanese homes, there aren't doors in between rooms and there's a ton of natural light that comes inside the home. My favorite area was the garden area which is just stunning. It's so relaxing and I'm sure would make for a lovely spot to meditate. The self-guided tour ends with the gift shop. All in all, you can get through it all in about an hour. A must visit in Buffalo!

We enjoyed viewing the outside of this amazing property in Buffalo, NY! Sadly, tours were not available inside due to a private event. The outside grounds were gorgeous. As always, the architecture was amazing! We will definitely need to return when we are able to tour.

Awesome! I have visited many of FLW's house throughout the country and what they have done to resurrect the Martin House is fantastic. I last toured it about 10 years ago when they were just starting on some of the major renovation work. Returning was high on our list of things to do so we made an online reservation for the one hour tour and lucked out when we got Michael as our docent. He was excellent! Great stories and knowledge. We saw another more private tour at the same time and that guide barely talked so we felt fortunate. A must see for anyone interested in history and architecture and not just fans of FLW.

Wonderful pre-tour video presentation with history and interesting info on the architect and owner of The Martin House. The docents I've met for two tours were great - personable, knowledgeable, fascinating insight. A five star experience that I'll continue to share with visitors from out of town.

I toured the Martin House as part of the All Day All Wright tour and this was clearly the highlight of the tour. I would strongly recommend making time to do one of the Martin House tours if you have an interest in Frank Lloyd Wright or architecture in general. The Martin House is a excellent example of Wright's Prairie style house, in this case it was two houses, related buildings and the gardens. The restoration that has been undertaken has done a great job of bringing the Martin House back to its glory. The introductory video at the new visitor center did a great job of setting up the relationship between Wright and Martin and giving us a basis for the tour. The docent we had was excellent as well, keeping the group moving, giving us information, answering questions and showing off the house. Well worth your time to see this architectural masterpiece.

The reason I'm giving four stars and not five has nothing to do with the brilliance of Frank Lloyd Wright's work or the beauty of this place. I highly recommend this to anyone visiting Buffalo or living in NY. The tour was informative and I had a great time. The reason for four stars instead of five is actually the docent who lead the tour. Firstly, she was only wearing a face shield and not a mask like everyone else was on the tour. Also, she acted like it was a huge inconvenience to do so. I would have ignored all of that (let's face it, by now we are all used to people complaining about a piece of cloth on their faces as if it's made out of solid metal) but what really got my goat was the following two things: 1. In the entire two and a half hour tour wherein the docent gave us, I will admit, some really interesting bits of information, she completely failed to mention that Wright was deeply inspired by Japan and Japanese style architecture. I think that omission is egregious- specially since there is currently (and at the time of this tour) a temporary sculpture exhibit on the grounds by a Japanese artist, BECAUSE OF THE HUGE INFLUENCE JAPAN EXERTED ON WRIGHT! 2. What REALLY had me irritated is that while explaining the 'organic' style of architecture that was Wright's hallmark (that is, where rooms just organically flow into each other and walls are noticeably absent) she said that it's because 'in America we are supposed to get to move around freely from one place to the other.' This is not only blatantly false (Wright was almost certainly not motivated by 'American freedom' in his designs) it also leaves a bad taste in the mouth. There is no place for chest-thumping, jingoistic displays of misplaced patriotism while appreciating art. Regardless, please don't let this deter you from visiting this breathtaking masterpiece. Hopefully you will get a different docent than someone, very aptly, named 'Karen'.

I'm a huge fan of FLW so this was a must view when I arrived for a wedding. I convinced my bro and a friend to join me and we rented a car. It was their first intro to Wright's architecture and they were impressed. Each home I visit by him is a pleasure and I'm delighted they've maintained his treasure. We were given a history of the family that lived there and shown each of the rooms. It is kept in very good shape and a bit of furniture remained. It was a nice diversion from the family.

A beautiful prairie style architectural wonder from the eccentric architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Extensive, beautiful gardens drape this property in flowers and greenery. I could not tour the interior but the exterior is immaculate and well cared for.

The Martin House is a Buffalo treasure that should be explored. This house was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright one of the most famous architects in the world. We are so lucky that our community managed to save and restore this one of a kind house. "There should be as many style houses as there are people". Frank Lloyd Wright. We took the two hour tour as we wanted to spend a good amount of time exploring the house and to learn as much as possible about FLW's vision for the Martin house. I makes you wonder why we settle for our cookie cutter homes and why we don't create homes that allows us to appreciate nature. FLW pays attention to every small detail and every piece of wood, glass and design is thoughtful design. They ask that we take no pictures of the inside as they like to have the public experience the home for themselves and each tour funds the continuous restoration of the home. I hope you enjoy the hike as much as we did.

The 90 minute tour of this grand house is excellent. Well worth the time. This is a beautiful Wright house and is one of the best examples of his architecture and furnishings that I have seen from many others across the US.

Arrive early to park on the street, and walk. The main Martin house is in a neighborhood near the zoo. The home has been restored, and it is stunning in a Wright way. Again, the story of what happens to a Wright home when the family can no longer afford it, or pay the taxes, is incredible. Tickets or memberships are purchased online to get a reservation. Meet at the new pavilion to get your tickets at Will Call. You will view a short film and read a timeline. The one hour tour lasted a little longer, and you end at the gift shop. The exterior and interior Wright detail is explained. You just want to sit a spell and feel the home's history. Visit the other three Wright structures in the area.

Before my move to Buffalo, relatives would tell me that I had to visit this place. A year later, still a tourist in my city, and loving it. We didn't bother looking into the tours after overhearing that tickets for the day had been sold out. Doing it the low-budget (aka free) way, my family and I perused the display of photos and timeline found in the pavilion (glass building opposite to the house) and explored the areas that did not require a ticket such as the museum shop and indoor plant/garden area. The architecture seen from the outside is beautiful and the property is meticulously maintained. Because the complex is nested in a residential area (and a short walk to the Buffalo Zoo), we parked on the street nearby.

Can't recommend it enough - this was the best part of our weekend trip to Buffalo. The pre-tour exhibition was informative and interesting. The docent that gave the tour had a deep knowledge of the site, restoration, architectural style, and the architect himself. We took the 2 hour Martin House Plus Tour. I went in thinking it would be too much, but my wife, 18 year old, and 15 year old found it just the right length. However, the furniture and even the building itself are the museum and a National Landmark. So there is no sitting and not even leaning against a wall. So if you're not up for two hours on your feet then consider the one hour and 15 minute Martin House Tour. The Martin House, along with Falling Water and the Guggenheim are considered his thee great works in the East. I had expectations for the Darwin house based on these other works. Fallingwater's technically brilliant cantilevering and radical blending of the outdoors with the indoors is a sight to behold - but it leaves something to be desired as a practical living space. Meanwhile, the Guggenheim's hyper-stylized curvaceousness is a different animal altogether. However, the Martin House's Prairie-style home is a wonder of architecture that I could see as a home. If you're in the Buffalo area don't pass this up.

Five stars! Five stars! Five stars! I'm an interior designer with mad love for all things architecture most specifically Frank Lloyd Wright. I will visit his houses and museums multiple times. This is my second visit to the Martin House and wow I am so in love. It's currently undergoing construction and restoration so hours vary. No photography is allowed inside but you can take as many pictures as you like of the exterior and the grounds. Even if you're not an architecture/design buff this is still a fun place to visit.

Must see...even if you live in Buffalo. I'm disappointed in myself that I've in Buffalo for so long and never visited. Michael was our tour guide and a volunteer. He knew so much and answered all questions we had. I really like that even though this experience is dependent on volunteers, there are so many motivated professionals excited to talk about the amazing history here. Tickets were kind of expensive but overall worth it. 1 hour is $20. 2 hours is $40. You get to see more of the house with the 2 hour tour. Again...you must stop in and see this architectural wonder!

You have to join the guided tour if you want to see the interior of the Martin House. They only have self-guided tours on select Monday evenings. Photography isn't allowed inside the Martin House unless you join the Photography tour. I couldn't decide whether to go for the one-hour ($22) or two-hour ($45) house tour because I thought it was a little pricey. We ended up going for the two-hour tour because it was the only one available when we walked in. We enjoyed the house tour. The docent and staff were very friendly and informative.

What a treat it was to see this stunning property! It's hard to believe that for 17 years it sat vacant, and fell into disrepair and suffered vandalism. So happy that the state of NY and BU raised the funds to restore the house back to its original splendor. Sadly we could take no photos-- never got a straight answer as to why, but I have never seen a property as incredible as this. We took the one hour tour for 19 pp. it started with a short film in the museum headquarters next to the house and then the house , first floor only. If you are in the Buffalo area , make sure you make it a point to see the genius of Frank Lloyd Wright

This place is beautiful. I love architecture and beautiful buildings and homes in general. Everything from the woodwork to the ceilings and fireplaces are gorgeous. If you're a fan of Frank Lloyd Wrights work, or architecture in general, you'll love this place.

This is a spendy house tour that is worth the money. The one hour tour is nearly $20 and the two hour tour is nearly $40. However, right now it's not a good idea to go on the two hour tour as massive renovations are in process to the attached Barton house and the upstairs of the Martin house. When these are complete I plan on going back and shelling out $40 to see the rest. I can only assume that the somewhat high rate goes to the renovations and upkeep of the house and if you love architecture you should just consider it a donation to its future preservation. The tour is very well done and begins with a video history of Mr. Darwin Martin and Frank Lloyd Wright and their relationship. The tour guide gave a very interesting and detailed tour and was able to easily answer any question about the house. The one hour tour takes you through the general construction and aesthetics of the home, through the front door, the living room, kitchen, dining room and library. Then you walk through the long covered walk to the enclosed indoor garden space with the statue of Nike that connects the Martin and Barton homes. The tour ends at the gift shop which is located in the original barn from when the home was first built and cars were not standard. The house of course is gorgeous and intriguing throughout. The upstairs of the house contains the bedrooms and personal family space but is not seen on this one hour tour. Currently it is being worked on as is the Barton home. If these are both accessible I would highly recommend purchasing the longer tour. The two hour tour also visits the servants quarters where seemingly all the windows are gorgeous glass work.

Based on exterior, terrific looking home, architecture. $19 is very STEEP to visit. Why not, 7, 10? Bucks

Some locals have complained about the $50 million spent on the restoration of this landmark site. On my recent visit, a docent mentioned that just one of the art glass windows has 750 pieces that have to be assembled. It's a $30,000 window. The craftsmanship in that detail alone gives you an idea of the precision involved at every turn as you tour the complex. Since my last visit, so much has been done. The exterior and grounds have been completed. A sleek white visitor center by architect Toshiko Mori is stunning and it doesn't intrude upon Frank Lloyd Wright's legacy. The interior has come a long way, too, especially the kitchen with its original cabinetry found and reinstalled. I look forward to another visit once the interior -- including the restoration of an incredible fireplace -- has been completed. Mr. Wright supposedly considered this one of his greatest achievements. Taking the tour on a warm, sunny day in Buffalo may make you agree.

Impeccably well restored to resemble what the estate would've looked like at it's original erection, the Martin House Complex is a must see in Buffalo. The architecturally dynamic space is something that is breathtaking and a true testament to the brilliance of Frank Lloyd Wright. We took the 2 hour docent led tour which led you through the servants home, all three levels of the executive estate (the main home) and the final area was the greenhouse and the stables where Martin would've kept the horses. Our docent Mike was well versed and very knowledgeable, answering every question that was thrown at him with expertise. The tour was an overall fantastic experience and a must see for any museum/history lover!

This use to be a presidents house. President of UB, many decades ago. The University owned the house at the time. This was in the 1960's, when the University bought the house from the city, who owned it by default, back taxes after the Martin family abandoned the property (after loosing the family fortune in the Great Depression). While sitting empty the property was looted and much of the original furniture taken and sold. Some of that has since been found and put back into the house. In 2002 the University transferred the property back to the Martin House Restoration Foundation. (Quick version - well worth a tour if you are interested in architecture and the like. Tours are lead by amazing docents who can answer every question I have ever heard asked.) More info - Now its a "destination place" for tourists and architecture buffs alike to visit. Its a National Historic Landmark, one of many in Buffalo actually. Near by, on Tillinghast, there is another FLW designed house (Walter V Davidson House), privately owned. FLW designed and built some other buildings in the Buffalo area as well. Buffalo was a large city at the time, and the Darwin Martin House is smack in the middle of an Olmstead designed neighborhood. Its all connected by Buffalos long and interesting history. The Darwin Martin House was built in the first 10 years of the 1900's. Literally. Its considered among Frank Lloyd Wrights most significant works actually. Next to the Guggenheim in NYC and Fallingwaters in PA. Darwin Martin was a wealthy businessman at the time. He eventually died in the home he loved. It was designed as 5 connected buildings, anchored by the Main House. Connected to the Main House was the Carriage House, which housed not only the horses, but also the chauffeur. There was a Conservatory connected. He even built a smaller house for his sister and her family. A few years later, the gardener and his family were given a small cottage as well. The gardens here were magnificently landscaped, which was all tied into the house and landscape, typical of Frank Lloyd Wright's other works. Its one of the Prairie Houses FLW designed. Over time some of the buildings were demolished (disrepair), and it was not until 1992 that the foundation raised the funds to oversee a complete restoration of the site. Its not yet finished, but in the meantime what is has opened to be public and is magnificent. During the process the Greatbatch Pavilion was designed and built, which is a welcome center of sorts, or a party venue, depending on your needs. One of todays famous architects, Tishiko Mori, designed this space, to complement the Darwin Martin Complex buildings. In the 1920's Martin again worked with Wright to created Graycliff, on Lake Erie. Martin used that residence as his summer home. To visit - they encourage reservations for the tours. You can take either a long or short tour. Closed Tuesdays and Thursdays. Long - 120 minutes, not wheelchair friendly, lots of walking and stairs. Docent with LOTS of info to share will lead you on this tour. First and Second Floors. Tickets range from $27 (member/student) to $35 (adult) Short - 60 minutes, wheelchair friendly. First Floor. Docent lead. Tickets from $12-17. They can accommodate groups if you plan in advance and you can reserve private tours for groups. If you are in the area, its a short walk to the Buffalo Zoo or Delaware Park. You can also get some food at Sweetness 7 or Street Café, or a cupcake and treat at Fairy Cakes. Street parking. Also still standing in the area are Frank Lloyd Wrights: Walter V Davidson House - Tillinghast William R. Heath House & Garage (1904-05) - 76 Soldiers Place The Graycliff Estate - Derby, NY

Let me start this one by explaining my need to try and compartmentalize this review as I'm sort of torn on what to rate this experience. On one hand you have the actual house complex which is easy enough to appreciate on it's own. But on the other hand you have the guide (sorry I mean docent since this very much a high society type of place) who you're paying to obviously help you interpret what you're seeing to gain a more fuller understanding of everything. What happens when the house exceeds your expectations but the docent does not? Let me elaborate. The tour starts at the Greatbatch Pavilion which is the all glass building next to the house. There you check in and get your wristband, use the loo, look at the excellent displays and wait for the short movie which explains a little about Wright, Darwin Martin and their collaboration on the house and surrounding buildings. From there you're led outside to the street to see the house from the front while getting some explanation (more on that later) before going to the front door then around to four different spots on the first floor. After that you go thru the pergola into the conservatory and finally into the carriage house which initially was the stables except it's now the gift shop which has a lot of things Wright related, most at fairly steep prices. Some Wikipedia style factoids: * The average house in the surrounding area cost 5K at the time. Wright's budget was 30K and he spent 125K before everything was said and done. That's around three million in today's dollars. That number does not include Graycliff which was the Martin's summer home on Lake Erie. * The complex consists of six interconnected buildings designed to be seen as one. The Martin House, the pergola which connects to the conservatory and carriage house with chauffeur's quarters and stables, the Barton House, a smaller residence for Martin's sister and brother-in-law, and a gardener's cottage added after the house was finished. * Darwin Martin for all his wealth at one point died penniless and his family eventually abandoned the complex not long after his death. * From 1937-1954 the house was vacant having reverted to the city of Buffalo for back taxes. * In 1962 the original pergola, conservatory and carriage house were demolished. What you see today are reproductions that were finished around ten years ago. * The end cost of the twenty year restoration will be north of fifty million dollars when everything is said and done at some point late this year or early next year. Hence the expensive ticket prices. Where our tour went a bit sour is in regards to our docent. I'll leave his name out of this so as not to make it personal but his speaking style and volume level are not ideal. Part of this isn't a big deal when you're in the house with just your group looking at the kitchen or the family room but when your outside in the pergola or at the beginning of the tour when your walking to the front door or in front of the front door or when there's another tour in a different room I'm not sure anyone really heard much unless you were standing right beside him. I'm not saying you need to have Jim Carrey leading the tour but you also don't want Ben Stein on a Quaalude either. If you go: There are multiple tour options depending on your level of interest, love of FLW and your bank account because the tours are not cheap. The primary tour is the Martin House Tour which is one hour and tackles the first floor rooms of the main Martin House, the pergola, conservatory and the carriage house. Adults $19, Senior $17, Student $14 Other options exist like a two hour tour that will show you more of the house and some of the other surrounding buildings all the way up to a private tour that clocks in at a staggering $450. Reservations especially on weekends are mandatory. I made our reservation early in the morning same day for a Saturday tour and it plus most of the day's other tours were near sell outs. Pictures of the interior of the house are of course a no-no unless you're taking the once a month photography tour. The website lists the reasoning for this as being for safety and security reasons but let's be honest that's a load of crap because the real reason is that if there were tons of interior photos online it would likely cut down on attendance. Parking is a bit odd as the house is located in a residential area and in essence you need to fight/search/shark for a space the same as the locals are who live in the neighborhood along with others who are there for a tour and if you come on a weekend potentially people coming to the church across the street for a service/function. The website lists another option which is to park in a Buffalo Zoo lot a few blocks away for five bucks to which I say nay nay on paying to park in general.

I've been here several times, but I still enjoy the visit each time. It is awesome to see how the house has improved over the years. On this occasion, I took a visiting relative to see house and also served my own motive of going to see the recently restored mosaic on the double sided fireplace. What a fantastic piece of artwork. I spend much of the tour time admiring the fantastic oak woodwork. The detail is unbelievable and there are so many layers of wood needed to create that incredible look

As far as Frank Lloyd Wright structures go Buffalo has, in a typical display of "bufflalonian" (see Urban Dictionary) wisdom and foresight, managed to tear down more of his architectural wonders than any other city has ever had such as one of his largest undertakings, the Larkin Building, which the city demolished for no other good purpose than to create parking lot. Fortunately there remain two rather good Frank Lloyd Wright homes in the area of Buffalo that one may tour and the Darwin Martin House happens to be one of them. Without getting into any details about it, Frank Lloyd Wright undoubtedly stands out as an architectural genius with unique detailing plus innovations which were way ahead of their time. However, being way of time is not necessarily such a good thing, because unless you have unlimited amounts of money and can afford open wallet upkeep and repairs, just maintaining anyone of his homes would bankrupt most multimillionaires. They're all prone to falling apart (Falling Waters just about fell into the water) and this place, the Darwin Martin House, has been under renovation of well over a decade at costs exceeding $25 million and is still not complete. The tours are pricey and not all that exciting but well worth the time and money to have an opportunity to see and learn what Frank Lloyd Wright and his architecture were all about. It's a big house (not really a home) which I would doubt would be all that comfortable to actual live in, but it's loaded with what were at the time cutting edge technology, uniqueness of design and unparalleled attention to detail.

Visiting this spot had always been on my to do list, so I finally just made time to go. What a place! It transports you back in time. I booked a ticket online for $15 (which gets you a viewing of the movie and a self-guided tour of the house). When I got there street parking was easily found (even on a Saturday) and I was greeted by a lovely docent at the desk. The movie is about 10 minutes long, but gives a great overview of the relationship between FLW and Darwin Martin. I learned a ton! After the movie you are allowed to sort of wander over to the main house. When you get there you are briefed on a few rules (no photography in the house, COVID proocols) and then set free. I truly enjoyed wandering through the house (only the first floor, however). The real showstopper, however, is the conservatory and gardens. Truly an amazing place for anyone even remotely interested in architecture and gardening. The museum shop is also lovely and transports you back in time with its ragtime music and super unique offerings for sale. I am excied to potentially go on more of the tours at the house in the future. Really a gem!

What an amazing property and story! Hard to believe that part of this complex was torn down and later rebuilt. Would highly recommend this if you are in Buffalo. The one hour tour was a little longer than that. No photos allowed inside, sadly. But a must do for any architecture lovers!