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Flooding shelves tours of historic Springfield home

SPRINGFIELD - A thunderstorm left water standing in the basement of the Dana-Thomas House State Historic Site in Springfield, causing the cancellation of tours.

The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency announced Friday that experts were evaluating damage and considering the next steps at the house, an example of Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie School of architecture. Tours were canceled Friday, but the Carriage House and the grounds remained open to visitors.

Staff at the home worked until dawn after Thursday night's storm to remove the water and protect wood floors and artifacts. The agency's cleanup and restoration contractor responded and has worked to minimize damage.

The state Historic Preservation Agency is consulting with architects and the state's Capital Development Board on what comes next.

It's unclear when tours of the home will resume.

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