a.d. german warehouse

The A.D. German Warehouse is indeed not a typical Frank Lloyd Wright creation. But in true flamboyant fashion of never doing anything simple, this building is also by no means a typical warehouse. Best known for its elaborate cast concrete frieze along the top of the building in Mayan motif, the impressive 4-story building stands out among Richland Center's historic buildings. The German Warehouse is, in fact, the only Wright-designed building in Richland Center, which is where Wright was born in 1867. The warehouse was nearly completed (in reality, the building was never quite completely completed to Wright's intended design) in 1921 and, contrary to review below, did in fact serve its intended purpose as a warehouse for sugar, coffee, and flour for some years. Later, in the 1960s, it was used to store individuals' belongings in the days before modern storage facilities. In recent decades, attempts to turn the warehouse into a Wright museum have largely failed. These days, it's not easy to gain access, but if you're lucky enough to find someone to let you in, grab the chance. The building is fascinating inside and out.

We drove by for a look and it was neat. We couldn't go in but we took pictures and walked around the building. Kind of sad that it's such bad shape but still interesting to see. I'm guessing it won't be getting better anytime soon.

No tours are allowed for this warehouse that was ultimately never finished nor used. We took a lot of pictures and walked around the building. Did not strike us as something Frank Lloyd Wright would design so that's one reason to go see it. Very different and an interesting history.