Dana-Thomas House

In 1902, Frank Lloyd Wright was commissioned to undertake the design and construction of a massive renovation of the Lawrence family home in Springfield, Illinois. The home was to be more than a mere residence -- it was to be a showcase. Upon its completion in 1904, the new edifice completely engulfed the original home. It immediately became a symbol of artistic and architectural excellence. It now stands as the finest example of the creativity and uniqueness characteristic of the Prairie School of Architecture." From Governor James R. Thompson's Executive Order August 23, 1983. Witnesses who visit or work at the historic house have reported humming voices, chairs being thrown down the stairs, curtains that move by themselves, and an apparition of a woman in black. The woman is believed to be the home’s original owner, Susan Lawrence Dana, who is rumored to have held seances here in the early 1900s. The hauntings are said to happen most frequently on particular days, such as Dana’s birthday, the day her mother died, or the days of the three funerals that were held in the house. This beautiful FLW home is also said to be haunted! Witnesses who visit or work at the historic house have reported humming voices, chairs being thrown down the stairs, curtains that move by themselves, and a ghost of a woman in black. The woman is believed to be the home’s original owner, Susan Lawrence Dana, who is rumored to have held seances here in the early 1900s!