The Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson has acquired a nearby Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian house, aiming to restore and preserve the property for future museum visitors.
The Mississippi Museum of Art (MMA) announced the purchase this month, citing inspiration from institutions like the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, which acquired the Wright-designed Bachman-Wilson House in New Jersey in 2014.
“This strategic acquisition is not only about preserving a culturally and historically important site – it is also a forward-thinking investment in the Museum’s vision for the future,” said MMA Board of Trustees chair Lisa Percy.
The recently acquired Fountainhead house, also known as the J Willis Hughes House, is located just a 10-minute drive from the museum’s main campus.
Constructed in the 1950s during Wright’s Usonian period, a time when he focused on designing affordable homes, the Fountainhead house includes four bedrooms, two full bathrooms, two half bathrooms, and a pool area that seamlessly extends into a nearby stream.
The house is designed in a wing-shaped layout, with the living spaces extending from one side and a row of bedrooms on the other. The interiors are characterized by wood-clad surfaces and narrow bands of windows, hallmarks of Wright’s architectural style.
According to the MMA, the house was constructed without the use of “stud walls, sheetrock, brick, tile, carpeting, or paint.” It also includes custom furnishings such as chairs and built-in shelving, all designed by Wright himself.
Once restoration is complete, the museum intends to provide shuttle service for visitors between its main campus and the house, and to host various programs at the property.
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