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Dana-Thomas House
301 East Lawrence Street, Springfield
217/782-6776
Open Daily: Tours at 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:30 PM, 3:00 PM and 3:45 PM
Site Holiday Closings:
New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Lincoln's Birthday, Presidents Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Site Holiday Openings:
Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Columbus Day, Veteran's Day.
Learn about the Dana-Thomas House's historic art glass in the video below.
When was the last time you experienced your architectural heritage?
Join us for a guided tour of the Dana-Thomas House State Historic Site.
To take a virtual tour of the Dana Thomas House, click on the above image.
In the heart of our country, progressive-minded heiress Susan Lawrence Dana hired architect Frank Lloyd Wright to design her a home in which she could advance ideas about education and democracy.
The environment they created is one of the best-preserved examples of Wright's "organic architecture," containing more than 100 pieces of custom furniture and over 250 works of original art glass.
We invite you to see and experience the Dana-Thomas House by taking a guided tour of the site. Please note photography, video, and other recording are only permitted on the exterior of the house. A gallery of photos including some interior spaces is available by clicking here.
Tour Information
Tours are led by our trained staff and volunteer interpretive team; self-guided tours are not permitted. Reservations are encouraged due to limited tour capacity and can be made at https://danathomashousetours.eventbrite.com. If you need assistance making your reservation online, please call us at 217-782-6776 or email dnr.historicspringfield@illinois.gov
There is no charge for the tour, but donations to support the historic site are appreciated.
Arrival
Please report to the front door of the house on Lawrence Avenue 5-10 minutes before your reserved tour time to check in and begin your tour. Do not visit the carriage house upon arrival.
Tour policies
- No more than 15 guests will be permitted on each tour without approval from staff. This includes adults, children and infants.
- The Dana-Thomas House has several small interior spaces.
- Guests will not be permitted to touch any furniture, artwork or other artifacts in the house.
- The Dana-Thomas House contains many stairs and narrow hallways spread over 16 different elevations. Please keep this in mind when making your reservations.
- Not all areas of the house are accessible by wheelchairs or other mobility assist devices. If you will be using a wheelchair or other mobility assist device that does not permit use of stairs, we would appreciate you contacting us at 217-782-6776 or dnr.historicspringfield@illinois.gov so we are prepared to give you a tour of the accessible areas.
- Pets are not allowed inside the Dana-Thomas House. Service animals are welcome. Please note we do not have a pet boarding facility on-site and we do not allow pets to be left outside unattended.
Parking
Due to construction, beginning 10/11/21, parking for the Dana-Thomas House temporarily moved to the lot on the corner of Fourth Street and Lawrence Avenue.
Photography Policy
Photography, video and other recording are limited to the exterior of the house only; photography, video and other recording are NOT permitted inside the house. A gallery of photos of the site, including interior images, is available here.
Summer Programs
NOIR IV: Landmarks Art Exhibition - June 15 - September 2
In collaboration with the Illinois State Museum and Juneteenth, Inc., the Dana-Thomas House will host NOIR IV: Landmarks, an exhibition celebrating Black art and culture. The exhibition, co-curated by Alyssa Farmer and Austin Wells, will be open from June 15-Labor Day weekend.
The Dana-Thomas House will host NOIR Community Days on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 9:00 to noon, and on Friday evenings from 5:00-7:00 pm as opportunities for people to visit the Dana-Thomas House and freely explore the NOIR exhibition without the obligation to reserve space on a guided tour. Children's activities will be offered on Wednesday and Saturday mornings; family activities in the courtyard will be offered on Friday evenings.
Date Night at the Dana-Thomas House - June 1 - August 3
On select Saturday evenings this summer, you and your date can experience a special evening tour of the Dana-Thomas House. Enjoy tasty selections from a charcuterie board and signature “Dana-Thomas” mocktails along with a live musical performance by Ben Bedford in the Dana House gallery. This program is recommended for adults interested in sharing a unique Dana-Thomas House experience with their partner or friend. Reservations required at https://DateNightatDTH.eventbrite.com
IDNR Information
Justin Blandford, Superintendent
Office of Land Management, Historic Sites Division
dnr.historicspringfield@illinois.gov
217-524-3971
Social Media
Instagram: @statehistoricsitesspringfield
Additional Resources
- Teachers in Illinois schools (grades prekindergarten through 12) can apply for grant funds to visit this site on a field trip with their students.
- Dana-Thomas Education Resources - This education material has been designed for elementary and high school students.
NOTE ANDROID USERS ONLY: The donation payment processing function in the Illinois History mobile application for Android devices is currently down. Donations are still being processed through the web site at https://dnrhistoric.illinois.gov/experience/sites.html.We apologize for the inconvenience.
Teachers in Illinois schools (grades prekindergarten through 12) can apply for grant funds to visit this site on a field trip with their students. Click here for the details.
