Visiting Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House in Buffalo NY

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Anna Hammerschmidt

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Amid a quiet, residential neighborhood in Buffalo, New York, is one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s best architectural accomplishments, the Martin House. Visiting the Martin House allows you to step inside an architectural masterpiece, and it’s a must-visit for anyone interested in architecture, design, or landscaping. With its open concept, sweeping horizontal lines, and natural color palette, touring this Frank Lloyd Wright house feels like a breath of fresh air. 

Touring the Martin House is an incredible experience and should be added to any Buffalo itinerary. I was in awe of the extraordinary attention to detail in the design and architectural elements in the Martin House.

A view of the Martin House from the front, showing the distinctive brick architecture with a path leading to the entrance. Bare trees frame the building, and patches of snow are visible on the ground. The image captures the unique design and expansive grounds surrounding the house.

This blog post is sponsored by the Martin House. However, my opinions are, as always, my own.

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission when you purchase a product or book a stay through these links at no extra cost to you. 

About the Martin House

The Martin House is one of the greatest examples of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie-style homes. Built between 1903 and 1905, The Martin House broke the box of what architecture was at the time. With its open concept, the Martin House was such an innovative estate. 

The Martin House was commissioned for Darwin D. Martin, a highly successful, top-ranking executive for the Larkin Soap Company. 

This residential estate includes the main Martin House residence, the Barton House, a gardener’s cottage, a carriage house, and a conservatory. It is a truly remarkable estate! 

A person standing at the base of the stairs leading up to the entrance of the Martin House, with distinctive brickwork and a sculptural element above the steps. The photo highlights the unique architectural details of the house, including the stained-glass windows and the minimalist design of the entrance.

Where is Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House?

The Martin House is tucked away in Buffalo’s peaceful Parkside neighborhood. Located on a residential street, the Martin House feels like you’re stepping into a neighborhood home. (Well, a neighborhood home built by one of the greatest architects of all time.)

Best Time to Visit the Martin House

The best part about the Martin House is that it is worth visiting year-round. I loved visiting in February, as touring the Martin House was a great indoor activity on a cold winter day in Buffalo. Yet, I couldn’t imagine a bad time to experience this Frank Lloyd Wright House.

Winter

Winter is a fantastic time to explore the Martin House, as visiting off-season allows you to have a more intimate experience. November through March, there tends to be fewer visitors than in the spring or summer, meaning you can enjoy the Martin House without the crowds. 

Keep in mind that each January, the Martin House undergoes annual maintenance. There are no tours available at that time. You can, however, walk the grounds. 

Winter is also the best time for local discounts at the Martin House. New York State residents can get 50% off select tours in March 2025 with the code MARCH50.

Spring and Summer

While spring and summer bring more visitors to the Martin House, this is also the best time to see the grounds. The landscaping at the Martin House is beautiful. Seeing the historic wisteria on the trellises of the pergola and the terrace garden are must-sees.

If you are a local or within driving distance of Buffalo, I recommend touring the Martin House in winter and coming back in spring to walk the grounds. 

Fall

This tree-lined estate is beautiful in fall. Buffalo, New York, is an excellent destination for leaf-peepers, and the Martin House is the perfect place to see fall colors. You can walk the grounds to see an array of fall foliage, and with Wright’s use of earth tones, touring the Martin House feels like fall personified.

How to Visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House

The grounds are open to the public and can be visited for free. However, to see the interior of the Martin House, you will need to book one of the Martin House tours.

The Martin House Tours

Here are the two standard tour options. There are some specialty tours and self-guided tour options at select times of the year. Visit the website for all tour options. 

Martin House Tour

The Martin House Tour is a 75-minute guided tour through the first floor of the Martin House, the pergola, the conservatory, and the carriage house. The Martin House Tour is a great option for those wishing to get an overview of the Martin House or anyone with limited time in their Buffalo itinerary. This is a great option and allows you to visit the key areas of the Martin House.

A person standing in the living area of the Martin House, taking in the design. The room features warm wood paneling, a greenish ceiling, and beautiful architectural details, including lights and soft furnishings that complement the space's organic feel.

Martin House Plus Tour

I highly recommend taking the Martin House Plus Tour – a two-hour guided tour covering everything, including the standard Martin House Tour, plus the second floor, the Barton House, and Gardener’s Cottage. This comprehensive tour is ideal for anyone wanting to learn more about this architectural masterpiece.

: A living room inside the Martin House, featuring a yellow sofa and chairs, with geometric wooden furniture. The room has large windows with intricate stained-glass designs, providing natural light to the space. The room showcases a rich combination of wood paneling, earthy tones, and Frank Lloyd Wright's signature architectural style, including the iconic curved fireplace.

Walk the Grounds

While you should tour the Martin House at least once, you can walk the grounds, visit the pergola, conservatory, and carriage house (the museum store) for free. You are encouraged to visit the grounds, and I highly recommend returning to the Martin House to see the gardens in full bloom.

A view from the porch of the Martin House, framed by architectural columns, looking out at the snow-covered front yard and the neighboring building in the background.

Highlights of Visiting the Martin House

Let’s get into the highlights of the Martin House. The Martin House estate is incredible, and there is so much to see here.

Visitor Pavilion

Martin House Tours begin at the Visitor Pavilion. Here, you will check in, get your wristband, watch a short introductory video, and meet your guide. The Visitor Pavilion is a great spot to start your visit, as it gives you some context to both Frank Lloyd Wright and Darwin Martin. 

Even if you are not partaking in a guided tour, the Visitor Pavilion is open to the public. Before exploring the grounds, I suggest stopping in to learn more about the Martin House.

A large glass window inside the Martin House Visitor Center provides a view of the snowy courtyard with leafless trees and the surrounding buildings of the historic Martin House complex.

The Martin House

The Martin House is one of the greatest examples of Wright’s Prairie-style homes. This house is notable for its expansive size, open concept, and natural color palette. The first floor of the Martin House is an excellent example of how Wright utilized compression and expansion to draw visitors into the guest areas and away from the private spaces in the home. 

A view of the living area with wooden furniture, a sofa, and a fireplace, showcasing the architectural design, including the ceiling with clean lines and distinctive brickwork. The warm lighting and organic shapes create a welcoming atmosphere.

The first floor is included in both guide tour options and allows you to visit the reception room, kitchen, dining room, living room, and library. One of the highlights of the Martin House is the beautiful art glass, including the iconic Tree of Life windows in the reception room. Another key feature is the impressive double-sided fireplace with the wisteria motif in the living room.

A close-up of the dining room with a polished wooden table and chairs. The space is open and airy, surrounded by brick walls and large windows that allow natural light to pour in, highlighting the organic and artistic design.

A well-decorated table with a large vase of dried plants in the center, surrounded by wood-framed windows with stained-glass elements. The furnishings and the room's layout emphasize the rich craftsmanship and organic design elements of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture.

On the second floor ofthe Martin House are the sleeping quarters. The built-ins in the main bedroom are quite impressive and showcase how Wright designed every aspect of the houses he built, from the architecture to the furnishings. 

A bedroom designed in the Prairie style with a double bed framed in rich wood with green cushions. The room features wood-paneled walls and a textured ceiling with beams. There is a desk and a chair on one side, with large windows that provide natural light, emphasizing the simple, yet elegant design typical of Frank Lloyd Wright's work.

Pergola

The pergola connects the main house to the conservatory. This open-air, covered walkway has 11 openings, which serve as windows to frame the gardens and buildings of the estate. While this walkway is open-air, it truly feels like an extension of the home.

The Conservatory 

The Conservatory at the Martin House is breathtaking. This indoor glass-enclosed garden features exotic and rare plants and is a true oasis on the grounds of the Martin House. One of the prominent fixtures in the conservatory is the ethereal sculpture at the end of the walkway, which is a replica of the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

A person stands in front of the Winged Victory sculpture inside the Martin House, gazing up at the beautiful architectural design of the space, with plants and a dramatic glass ceiling overhead.

Carriage House/Gift Shop

The carriage house was a multi-functional structure used as the barn and garage. Having a carriage house with stables for horses and space for an automobile indicates just how wealthy the Martin family was for the time.

The exterior of the Martin House with its distinct brickwork and architectural features, showcasing the craftsmanship and design of Frank Lloyd Wright's signature Prairie style.

Today, the carriage house serves as the museum store. Here, you can find some fantastic Martin House-inspired gifts, including books, home decor, puzzles, and more! I particularly liked the art glass-inspired glassware and the doormats; you can seamlessly integrate a little piece of the Martin House into your own home.

The interior of the Martin House gift shop, showcasing a selection of books, decorative items, and Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired home goods such as pillows, notebooks, and framed prints.

The Barton House

The Barton House was actually the first structure built on the estate. Frank Lloyd Wright built this house for Martin’s sister, and it was seen as a test house with fewer ornate touches than the Martin House. As it has been continuously occupied since its construction, the Barton House is one of Wright’s best-preserved Prairie-style homes.

The exterior view of a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home with a prominent overhanging roof, brickwork, and a front yard with sparse snow and neatly manicured landscaping, surrounded by other homes in the area.

Gardener’s Cottage

Even the Gardener’s Cottage at the Martin House estate was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The Gardener’s Cottage was built for the gardeners and their families on the estate. The Martin House has incredible gardens; thus, having a cottage for the gardener was pertinent. This cottage is more modest than the other building on the estate, yet still showcases beautiful art glass.

The exterior of a charming two-story house with a snow-covered pathway leading to a porch with decorative lights and wooden chairs. The house is nestled between other buildings, showcasing a blend of classic architecture with a warm, earthy color palette.

Statler Café

While visiting the Martin House, be sure to grab lunch at Statler Café. Offerings include light bites such as salads, sandwiches, and local treats from Parkside Candy.

Statler Café is open to the public, so even if you’re going for a walk through the grounds, you can stop in for coffee, lunch, or even happy hour.

The exterior of the Statler Café at the Martin House complex in Buffalo, NY, showing a welcoming entrance with open doors, snow on the ground, and festive decorations near the door. A lunch tray with a sandwich, salad, and a container of pasta sits on a table inside the Martin House Statler Cafe, with a view of the snowy landscape outside.

The Landscape

Not only did Frank Lloyd Wright design all the buildings in the Martin House complex, but he also designed the landscaping. Wright’s concept was to create harmony between the buildings and the landscape, which he achieved. The gardens, trees, and shrubbery feel like an extension of the Martin House, and the brick facade is cohesive, with lush greenery and colorful gardens.

The exterior of the Martin House, showcasing the brick architecture, trees without leaves, and the snow-covered ground, with a cobblestone path leading toward the building.

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