Taliesin Preservation invites visitors to join us in a conversation about the interconnectedness of land and culture while enjoying the natural landscape of the Taliesin estate during our new Driftless Landscape Tour. This completely outdoor tour will speak to the natural history of the estate, using Frank Lloyd Wright as the connecting theme between topics. Guests on this tour will explore the landscape that Wright felt drawn to and learn about the geology, ecology, and agri(cultural) history of southwest Wisconsin that attracts so many people to the Driftless Area.
This tour seeks to illustrate how Taliesin is a product of the ecological, geological, and (agri)cultural traditions that surround it. The Driftless region of southwestern Wisconsin is a geologically unique place, which was a great influence to Wright upon designing Taliesin. The Driftless region’s hilly terrain is unlike the surrounding areas — 10,000 years ago the ice age glaciers carved through northern Wisconsin, flattening all the surrounding land; however, since the glaciers and their corresponding glacial drift never made it to this area, it is referred to as the “driftless region.” Some of the key features of the Driftless area are limestone rock outcroppings from the tops of hills, steep hillsides, and deep valleys with streams at the bottom of them. The local flora and fauna will also be explored as they pertain to the natural landscape. Additionally, the tour will also look into the complex history of the site in relation to its original inhabitants and their (agri)cultural uses of the land.
The Driftless Landscape Tour is an excellent addition to the other tour offerings hosted by Taliesin Preservation, but also offers a great stand-alone experience. The tour will include a rich overview of the Taliesin property and will include visits to the Food Artisan Immersion Program garden, the Midway Barn, the Water Gardens, and the Taliesin Dam. This tour includes a one mile walk across the Taliesin estate. More information can be found on our website. We hope to see you on tour!
