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Summary
UNITY CHAPEL
Highway County T, Town of Wyoming, Iowa County
Architect: Joseph Lyman Silsbee
Date of Construction: 1886
Unity Chapel, designed by Chicago architect Joseph Lyman Silsbee, is a small, simple building arranged in an L- shaped plan. Designed for minister Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Frank Lloyd Wright's uncle, the Chapel project was a natural assignment for Silsbee's new draftsman, Frank Lloyd Wright.
This Shingle style building is covered with a layer of cedar shingles on both the roof and exterior walls and rests on a masonry foundation. A belfry with an unusual shaped hipped roof is positioned between the intersection of both wings. Frank Lloyd Wright assisted with the interior space, designing an open plan with a unique cathedral ceiling. The chapel's simple form reflects a broad architectural movement to reject frilly and fanciful Victorian ornament in favor of simpler designs using natural materials.
The Unity Chapel exemplifies the significant relationship, which developed between Frank Lloyd Wright and his first mentor Joseph Lyman Silsbee. The Chapel cemetery, located adjacent to the Unity Chapel, is the resting place of several generations of the present Lloyd Jones family.
The building is not open to the public.
Property Details
| Criteria | Architecture/Engineering |
|---|---|
| Area Of Significance | Architecture |
| Period of Significance | 1875-1899 |
| Architectural Style | Shingle Style |
| Architect | Silsbee,Joseph Lyman,Wright, Frank Lloyd |
| Resource Type | Building |
| Historic Use | Religious Facility |
Resources Within The Property
| Contributing Buildings | 1 |
|---|---|
| Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Contributing Objects | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Buildings | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Objects | 0 |
Designations
| Historic Status | Listed in the National Register |
|---|---|
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Jul 18, 1974 |
| Historic Status | Listed in the State Register |
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Jan 1, 1989 |
State & National Registers of Historic Places
The State Register and National Register recognize buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects that are significant in national, state, or local history. The State Historic Preservation Office in conjunction with the National Park Service maintains the list for Wisconsin and makes the data available to the public for research and education.
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Email UsAttribution
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the page for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.
For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.
COUNTY HIGHWAY T, 1/4 MILE E OF STATE HIGHWAY 23, S SIDE
16190
Located in Wyoming, Iowa County
Ellen Lloyd Jones and Jane Lloyd Jones
Cyanotype of sisters Ellen Lloyd Jones (left) and Jane Lloyd Jones (right) founders and administrators of Hillside Home School. The women are the aunts of architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
Frank Lloyd Wright with Apprentices
1952
Frank Lloyd Wright with apprentices at Taliesin. Eric Lloyd Wright is seated to the right of FLW. Taliesin is located south of Spring Green, on the opposite side of the river.
COUNTY HIGHWAY T, .5 MI EAST OF HWY 23
147261
Located in Wyoming, Iowa County
Frank Lloyd Wright
1924
Portrait of Frank Lloyd Wright seated on a drafting table possibly in his office at Taliesin. Wright is holding a cane and is in front of a large model of a building. Taliesin is located in the vi...
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lloyd Wright
1936
Frank Lloyd Wright and his wife Olgivanna, seated together reading in a bedroom at Taliesin. Taliesin is located in the vicinity of Spring Green, Wisconsin.
