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heidirubymiller · Post by **heidirubymiller** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 6:47 pm

Hello everyone.

Pardon me if I missed a protocol for introducing oneself here.

My name is Heidi Ruby Miller, and I'm the Educational Marketing Director at Frank Lloyd Wright's House on Kentuck Knob. Some of you I know virtually and some I've met in person, but for most of you, this is our first introduction.

Nice to meet you!

So, who here has visited Kentuck Knob?

Cheers,
Heidi

Wrightgeek · Post by **Wrightgeek** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 7:38 pm

First of all, welcome to Wright Chat Heidi! We're glad to have you here.

I for one have been to KK, as I'm sure many other Wright Chatters have as well. It is a beautiful piece of architecture, in an absolutely spectacular setting. Amongst the general public, it tends to get lost in the very large shadow thrown by it's neighbor, Fallingwater. But within the ranks of hard-core Wright enthusiasts, KK is recognized as one of FLW's best late Usonian works, IMHO.

FYI, here is a post I made recently on the subject of the best FLW building tours we as Wright Chatters have ever experienced. I think you will probably find this gratifying:

Among the public sites, I would probably have to say my best tour was at Kentuck Knob. I live about 4 hours away from KK by car, and we had scheduled an in-depth tour, which was the last tour of the day to depart. After getting just a bit of a late start, we then ran into major traffic issues on the way, and once it became obvious that we would miss the start of our tour, we called to let them know we were going to be late and to please start without us. I was quite disappointed, but we decided to still head to KK to look around and see what we could see.

When we arrived, our tour had been gone for about 45 minutes. The gift shop was still open, but just about to close. When we mentioned that we were the couple that had called to cancel earlier, the staff person offered to run just the two of us up to the house after she closed the gift shop, for a private tour. We enthusiastically accepted, and got to enjoy the house by ourselves, which was fantastic. The tour guide was very knowledgable and quite chatty, and so we ended up being up at the house for about two hours, and got to experience the transition from late afternoon daylight, to dusk, to nightfall, which was magical. Needless to say, a nice tip was in order for our guide, who went way above and beyond what she needed to do.

Hope you enjoyed that, and again, welcome Heidi. Here's hoping you become an active member and enjoy your time here.

Tim · Post by **Tim** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 9:43 pm

deleted

Paul Ringstrom · Post by **Paul Ringstrom** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 11:39 pm

Yes Heidi, I've been to your place several times over the years as I am sure many of the Wright chatters have.

heidirubymiller · Post by **heidirubymiller** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 8:54 am

Wrightgeek:
That was such a beautiful write-up about Kentuck! Maybe you should have my job...

I am so glad you had that wonderful experience. The staff really does try to go above and beyond. I, personally, always think, "If these guests were my family members, how would I want them to be treated?"

Tim:
Please tell your wife she has good taste.

And, yes, Lord Palumbo and his family are still the owners, and we are so fortunate that they visit several times a year.

Paul:
Lovely to hear! I hope to see some of you there again soon.

guanche · Post by **guanche** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 9:29 am

So, who here has visited Kentuck Knob?

itÂ´s one of my dreams... i hope to get sooner than later

Jeff Myers · Post by **Jeff Myers** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 10:30 am

I soon will visit. I don't know when but probably sometime in 2014. I know far reaching. I hope to visit a lovely home.
Welcome to the Wright Chat.

Education Professor · Fri Feb 26, 2010 11:34 am

Welcome to Wright Chat. Heidi....I think you'll enjoy being a part of this insightful and helpful community. My wife and I visited Kentuck Knob in 2005 and had a wonderful experience.....we hope to return for another visit in the near future.....

Matt Smith
"Education Professor"

Healeyjet · Post by **Healeyjet** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 12:07 pm

Heidi, or anyone else that may know I guess, being from Canada and somewhat new to the Usonians, why is it called Kentuck Knob? I google searched "kentuck" and the main reference is to Kentuck Knob.
Ward

egads · Post by **egads** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 12:43 pm

I'm sure that Heidi can relate the story better, but what I remember from visiting is that an early settler was on his way to Kentucky, found the area and just stayed. This is from the Wiki page on Kentuck Knob:

The name Kentuck Knob is credited to the late eighteenth-century settler David Askins, who intended to move from Western Pennsylvania to Kentucky, but then reconsidered and remained at this very property, naming his tract of land Little Kentuck. It subsequently became known the Kentuck District of Stewart Township, one of the county's several rural mountainous townships. Ever since the summit of the property has been called Kentuck Knob.

egads · Post by **egads** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 12:55 pm

Oh, I never related my Kentuck experience.
We had planned to do Kentuck the first afternoon, stay locally and then do an in depth Fallingwater tour. (only available first thing in the morning) Circumstances changed in our stay in Pittsburgh, and we needed to change our tour day. This was accommodated quickly with a phone call, no extra charge. For that I thank the management.

The house is amazing, Lord Palumbo's art collection (including furniture) first rate. For anyone planning a visit, do try to have time to walk back down to the visitor's center. The view from the hillside is spectacular, and the sculpture in nature rewarding.

And my orange T shirt from the gift shop has a perf on it!

Healeyjet · Post by **Healeyjet** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 1:06 pm

Thanks Egads.
Ward

Roderick Grant · Post by **Roderick Grant** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 2:33 pm

Heidi, in a recent post it was mentioned that it would be advantageous to visitors of FLW house museums to have the opportunity to experience the space seated, but few if any houses make that accommodation. What are your thoughts on this? Not that I would encourage you to allow visitors to Kentuck Knob to sit on the Bugatti chair, but a non-historic chair, even folding chair, would give the tourists a very different view of things. I suppose time constraints enter into it?

BTW, my visits to KK were thoroughly enjoyable. I visited 3 times while Susan Waggoner was still in charge.

Wrightgeek · Post by **Wrightgeek** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 4:08 pm

RGrant-

By any chance was the Susan Waggoner you referenced at KK related in some way to Lynda Waggoner, the longtime director over at Fallingwater? If not, seems like a bit of a strange coincidence.

BBuck · Post by **BBuck** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 5:00 pm

Heidi,

My sister and I were fortunate to visit Kentuct Knob this past summer. As a Usonian fan, I found the home an absolute delight! Our tour was informative and the grounds worth exploring. I think we spent more than 4 hours there. Could have spent a lifetime!

-BBuck