Meyer May Chronology
In its Victorian neighborhood, the Meyer May house defied convention. In the context of Wright’s career, it was an expression of ideas that grew bolder over time. In the context of contemporary architecture and design, Wright’s impact is still being defined.
Explore the blended history of Frank Lloyd Wright and the Meyer May House in the Chronology below.
1900
Musée d’Orsay Architect Victor Laloux Paris, France
1902
Flatiron Building Architect Daniel Burnham New York, New York 
1902
William Ward Willits House Highland Park, Illinois 
1903
The Larkin Building Buffalo, New York 
1904
The Darwin Martin House Buffalo, New York 
1905
The Unity Temple Chicago, Illinois 
1906
Casa Batillchitect Antoni Gaudi Barcelona, Spain 
1907
The Avery Coonley House Riverside, Illinois 
1908
Meyer and Sophie May commission Frank Lloyd Wright to build their home on Madison avenue. 
1908
The Robie House Chicago, Illinois 
1909
Construction on the May home is completed. Wright leaves his family and practice, traveling in Europe with Mamah Cheney. 
1910
Casa Mila Architect Antoni Gaudi Barcelona, Spain 
1910
George Niedecken, Wright’s Milwaukee-based associate, adds finishing touches to the May house interior. 
1911
Wright builds Taliesin, a new home and studio in Spring Green, Wisconsin. 
1913
Woolworth Building Architect Cass Gilbert New York, New York 
1913
Midway Gardens Chicago, Illinois 
1914
Harriet May is adopted. 
1914
Tragedy at Taliesin. A servant murders Mamah Cheney and others, and sets the building on fire. 
1915
The Imperial Hotel Tokyo, Japan 
1916
Richard May is adopted. 
1917
Sophie May dies of influenza, December 10, age 38. 
1921
Meyer May marries Rae Stern, a Chicago widow with two children (divorced 1929). 
1922
Wright marries his second wife, Maud Miriam Noel (divorced 1927). 
1922
Addition by Osgood & Osgood adds new space, including two bedrooms upstairs & servants’ quarters on the main floor. 
1923
Ennis-Brown House, Los Angeles, CA Wright develops a new style pre-cast Textile Block houses. 
1925
Wright sells the Oak Park Home and Studio. 
1928
Wright marries his third wife, Olgivanna Lazovich. 
1935
Edgar J. Kaufmann House (Fallingwater) Bear Run, Pennsylvania 
1936
S.C. Johnson Wax Company Administrative Building Racine, Wisconsin 
1936
Meyer May dies, November 7, age 65. The house remains empty for the next six years. 
1937
S.C. Johnson Wax Furniture Racine, Wisconsin 
1939
Talesin West Scottsdale, Arizona 
1942
Charles Helmer family purchases the house. Remaining Wright-designed furniture is included in the sale. 
1945
The Newcomb family buys the home. Over the next 40 years, carports and apartment entrances are added. 
1956
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum New York, New York (Completed in 1959) 
1959
Wright dies at the age of 91. 
1965
Charles Newcomb dies, age 91. Mrs. Newcomb rents apartments in the 1922 addition. 
1985
Steelcase purchases the home and extensive restoration research begins. 
1986
Restoration to the original design is underway. 
1987
Restoration is complete, and the house is opened to the public. 
2009
100-year anniversary is celebrated.