The American System-Built Homes–Burnham Street District is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, historic district of six houses designed by Frank Lloyd Wright—not a destination on Burnham Street in Rockford, Illinois.
Its homes offer a look at Wright’s experiment with standardized, lower-cost construction and Prairie Style design; two are described as restored and open for regular tours. For time in Rockford, this three-star hotel in Rockford is one local base.
- Location: the 2700 block of West Burnham Street in Milwaukee
- Homes: four duplexes and two cottages
- Construction: October 1915 to July 1916
- Tours: two homes are open for regular tours by Frank Lloyd Wright Wisconsin; check current details before going
What the Burnham Street District Is
The American System-Built Homes–Burnham Street District is a group of six Wright-designed homes in Milwaukee’s 2700 block of West Burnham Street.
The six houses were built between October 1915 and July 1916 as part of Wright’s American System-Built Homes project, developed with Milwaukee builder Arthur L. Richards.
Wright’s system used standardized, factory-produced construction and precut components intended to reduce construction labor and waste. The district is recognized as an early experiment in low-cost standardized building, as well as a Prairie Style group of houses.
The district is not in Rockford, despite the similar street name. Rockford’s Historic Preservation Commission provides information about the city’s preservation program and historic-sites map, but does not identify a Burnham Street American System-Built Homes district there. If you’re planning time in Rockford too, which neighborhoods and downtown areas can you visit?
Architecture to Notice on the Street
The district’s four duplexes have two stories, stucco exteriors and flat roofs, while its two cottages are one-story homes with different designs.
On the duplexes, look for the long horizontal lines, broad eaves, board trim and cantilevered second-story open porches. Together, those features give the buildings a strong emphasis on horizontal form. The variation among the houses is part of the district’s character: the cottages are not copies of one another, but distinct designs within the same project.
One cottage, at 2714 West Burnham Street, has a low roof monitor, broad fascia, casement windows and horizontal window trim. Its front porch was originally open, then enclosed in 1939. The other cottage is at 1835 South Layton Boulevard, on the corner of Burnham Street and Layton Boulevard. The duplexes occupy addresses in the 2720–2734 West Burnham Street range.
These are residential buildings, so the architectural details are best appreciated from public areas. The district’s six homes show how Wright’s standardized building approach could produce more than one house form while retaining shared design features.
Visiting the District Respectfully
The district is a residential neighborhood, and tour access applies to two restored homes rather than all six houses.
The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy says two of the homes have been restored and are open for regular tours by Frank Lloyd Wright Wisconsin. Tour dates, hours, prices and booking requirements can change, so check the official site before you go. Confirm which homes a tour includes and follow the operator’s instructions for access.
For the other houses, view the exterior from public space and treat the surrounding homes as private residences. Rockford’s preservation commission is authorized to maintain and enforce guidelines for locally designated landmarks and historic districts, but that local authority concerns Rockford—not this Milwaukee district.
Getting to Burnham Street from Rockford
Burnham Street’s American System-Built Homes are in Milwaukee, so a Rockford visit and a district visit are outings in different cities.
If you’re spending additional time in Rockford, what can you see at Kosciuszko Park? is a separate local outing. Keep the Milwaukee district on its own itinerary, and verify tour arrangements directly with Frank Lloyd Wright Wisconsin before setting out.
FAQs
Is the Burnham Street American System-Built Homes District in Rockford?
No. The district is in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the 2700 block of West Burnham Street.
How many homes are in the district?
There are six Wright-designed homes: four duplexes and two one-story cottages.
Can you tour the homes?
Two restored homes are described as open for regular tours by Frank Lloyd Wright Wisconsin. Check the operator’s official site for current tour arrangements.
What makes the houses part of the American System-Built Homes project?
Wright’s system used standardized, factory-produced construction with precut components intended to reduce labor and waste. The six houses were built as part of the project with Milwaukee developer Arthur L. Richards.