Updated on January 9, 2026
One of the best things about Iowa City is the variety of homes you’ll find here. Walk through any established neighborhood—along Summit Street or through the tree-lined blocks near downtown—and you’ll spot everything from grand Victorians to cozy bungalows to modern builds. Our homes span nearly two centuries, creating a cool mix of architectural styles that tells the story of how our community has grown and changed.
We’re kicking off a series where we’ll explore some of the different home styles you’ll encounter in Iowa City and the surrounding communities. First up: Prairie-style homes, a design that feels especially at home here in the Midwest.
History of Prairie Style Architecture
The Prairie architectural style originated in the early 20th century in Chicago, when a group of architects dreamt of breaking away from the typical, European-influenced architecture in America. Instead, they wanted to create their own architectural style suitable to the American Midwest. This driven group of architects attracted the likes of Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis H. Sullivan and earned the name “Prairie School” by historians. Most Prairie homes were built between 1905 and 1915, as the style went out of fashion shortly after World War I.
Identifying Prairie Style Homes
While there are numerous variations of Prairie homes, there are several key elements that can help identify this style. In general, when determining whether a home is Prairie style, you should look for the following features:
- Two stories, with one-story wings or porches that extend the length of the house
- Large, square columns supporting the porch
- Flat or low-pitched, hipped roofing with wide overhangs
- Horizontal lines built to mirror flat prairie lands
- Windows assembled in horizontal lines
- A prominent chimney
- Open floor plan with free-flowing spaces
- Built-in cabinetry and furniture
Variations in the Prairie Style
It’s common to see variations within the architectural style that make each home unique.
The most common variation of the Prairie home is often referred to as the “Prairie Box” or “American Foursquare.” This well-known design received its name due to its signature square or rectangular frame. It is common for this style to have hipped dormers, double-hung sash windows, and a single-story porch that spans partway or fully along the house.
As a whole, the home is very symmetrical, but the entrance of the home can be either centered or off-center. Typically, this variation is built with locally available materials, including wood, brick, or stone.
While the American Foursquare is the most common style of Prairie house, others have their own unique characteristics. You may find Prairie homes that are asymmetrical in design, such as the Edward R. Hills House located in Oak Park, IL (pictured below).
Photo Credit: Frank Lloyd Wright Trust
Other Prairie-style homes have inconspicuous entrances that are located on the side of the house, overshadowed by horizontal rows of casement windows and impressive vertical detailing or obscured by cement walls.
While most typically feature a low-pitched, hipped roof, where all four sides slope downwards from a central point, Prairie homes can also be found with a gabled roof, which consists of two roof sections sloping downwards from a shared ridge, but they are much less common. If you’re looking at a gable-roofed home that fits part of the description but lacks the boxiness of the standard Prairie, you might actually be looking at a Craftsman-style home.
As with all architectural styles, the original design has evolved over time. You can still find influences of the original Prairie design in today’s newer home developments.
Local and Regional Examples
Because the Prairie architectural style originated in Chicago, its influence can be seen in Iowa and throughout the Midwest. We’ve put together a list of a few notable examples that can be found either locally or regionally.
Local: Ned Ashton House, Iowa City
Right here in Iowa City, you can see a great example at the Ned Ashton House along the Iowa River on Park Road. Built in 1947 by a University of Iowa engineering professor, the home was designed with Prairie School influences.
Photo Credit: icgov.org
You’ll notice how it sits low to the ground and really integrates with its riverside scenery. The house is constructed from Anamosa limestone and concrete, and it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
National: Historic Park Inn Hotel, Mason City, IA
If you want to see Prairie style on a grander scale, head up to Mason City and visit the Historic Park Inn Hotel. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright himself and completed in 1910, it’s the last remaining hotel Wright ever designed, and it’s still operating as a boutique hotel today.
The building showcases all the hallmarks of Prairie School architecture with its horizontal lines and integration with the landscape. After a major restoration in the early 2000s, the hotel now welcomes guests who can experience Wright’s vision firsthand. Mason City’s entire Rock Crest-Rock Glen Historic District features the largest collection of Prairie School homes in the world.
Oak Park and River Front, Chicago, IL
If you really want to dive deep into Prairie-style architecture, the Chicago suburbs of Oak Park and River Forest are where it all began. This is where Frank Lloyd Wright lived, worked, and developed the entire Prairie School style—Oak Park alone has 24 Wright-designed buildings, and River Forest has eight more.
Photo Credit: Chicago Architecture Center
Wright’s home and studio at 951 Chicago Avenue is where he and his team designed many of his most famous works between 1898 and the early 1900s. You can tour the home and studio, then walk the surrounding neighborhood to see houses lining Forest Avenue and Chicago Avenue that showcase the evolution of Prairie style architecture. The area has the world’s largest concentration of Wright-designed structures all in one place.
Amberg House, Grand Rapids, MI
In Grand Rapids, Michigan, you’ll find the Amberg House, a fascinating Prairie-style home with an interesting backstory. Originally commissioned from Frank Lloyd Wright in 1909, the house was actually completed by Marion Mahony Griffin, one of Wright’s most talented associates, after Wright abruptly left for Europe.
Photo Credit: Frank Lloyd Wright Sites
Built in 1910 for liquor wholesaler David Amberg, the home features all the Prairie hallmarks—low gabled roof, wide overhangs, horizontal bands of windows, and beautiful art glass detailing. It’s just a couple blocks from the Meyer May House, another stunning Wright-designed Prairie home in Grand Rapids.
Allen House, Wichita, KS
Down in Wichita, Kansas, you’ll find what many consider to be one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s finest achievements: the Allen House. Commissioned in 1916 and completed in 1918, this was one of Wright’s last Prairie-style homes, built for Henry J. Allen, a newspaper publisher who later became Kansas Governor and U.S. Senator.
Photo Credit: Visit Wichita
Wright himself called the living room one of his best works, and architectural experts agree, describing it as ‘one of the great rooms of the 20th century.’ The house has been meticulously restored and now operates as a museum in Wichita’s College Hill neighborhood, complete with more than 30 pieces of Wright-designed furniture and all of its original art glass.
Show Us the Prairie Style Homes Near You
Do you know of any Prairie homes in your community? We’d love to see them! If you feel inclined, snap a photo and tag us on Facebook or Instagram and use the hashtag #UAhistorichomes.
No matter the style of home you’re looking for, we’ll help you find it. Let us know how we can help!
