Mount Prospect Historical Society bus tour to feature Wright-designed buildings, Bradbury exhibit

Fans of both great architecture and great literature will find reasons to board a bus in Mount Prospect on Saturday, May 2. They will embark on a daylong tour to see the famous SC Johnson Wax corporate headquarters in Racine, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and the Ray Bradbury room at the recently restored and reopened Carnegie Library in Waukegan.

SC Johnson tours have long been a must-see for design lovers, offering a rare look at Wright’s corporate masterpieces and award-winning architecture which feature his signature style of bold, geometric designs and organic integration into the environment.

The Johnson Wax Administration Building, opened in 1939, is celebrated as one of the 25 most important buildings of the 20th century. Its 43 miles of Pyrex tubing windows, soaring Great Workroom, and cantilevered design make it a landmark of corporate architecture.

Tour participants will also see the Research Tower which was also designed by Wright, but completed in 1950. It is one of the tallest cantilevered structures ever built and was where brands like Glad, OFF! and Pledge were developed.

The morning will conclude with lunch at the Waterfront Warehouse restaurant in nearby Kenosha. Each participant will be responsible for choosing and paying for their own lunch.

After lunch the group will proceed to Waukegan where they will visit the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie and the room dedicated to that city’s favorite son, author Ray Bradbury, known for writing “Fahrenheit 451,” “Dandelion Wine” and many short stories. Bradbury grew up in Waukegan and spent many hours in this library as a child. The group will receive a tour and an informative lecture about Bradbury and his formative years in Waukegan.

Tour-goers will leave Mount Prospect at 8:45 a.m. and return around 4:30 p.m. The cost for the day is $125 per person ($110 for MPHS members). The trip requires considerable walking and the ability to climb bus stairs, flights of stairs and stand for up to 60 minutes.

To reserve your space (which is limited), register and pay online at mtphist.org. Phone (847) 392-9006 with questions.