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All the United States California San Francisco V. C. Morris Gift Shop

V. C. Morris Gift Shop

Early prototype for Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim.

San Francisco, California

Added By
aerialdomo
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The entrance of Frank Lloyd Wright’s V.C. Morris Shop, a precedent for the Guggenheim. (Wikimedia Commons)   http://en.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V._...
The entrance of Frank Lloyd Wright’s V.C. Morris Shop, a precedent for the Guggenheim. (Wikimedia Commons)   http://en.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V._...
The exterior of the building. (Wikimedia Commons)   http://en.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V._...
Inside of the V. C. Morris Gift Shop. (Wikimedia Commons)   http://en.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V._...
Inside of the V. C. Morris Gift Shop. (Wikimedia Commons)   http://en.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V._...
Sign on entrance to store Sept. 13, 2022   herrmannfan / Atlas Obscura User
  herrmannfan / Atlas Obscura User
  CatnipTARDIS / Atlas Obscura User
Store interior through locked gate.   herrmannfan / Atlas Obscura User
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About

This building, on Maiden Lane in downtown San Francisco, California, is instantly recognizable as having the touch of Frank Lloyd Wright. While the celebrated architect didn't actually design the building, he did oversee a renovation in 1948.

Wright would go on to use the store as a physical prototype, or proof of concept, for the circular ramp inside of the main room at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City.

Xanadu Gallery, the current owner of the building, spent considerable amounts of money to restore the building to Wright's vision from the '40s. Xanadu had to retrofit the building for current amenities, like central air conditioning, without losing some of Wright's architectural touches. Even the furniture inside of the building, most of it constructed of black walnut, was designed by Wright.

In 2007, the V. C. Morris Gift Shop was listed on the American Institute of Architects' list of the group's 150 favorite buildings anywhere in America. It came in at number 126.

Update: The High End Italian Mens Clothier Isaia opened in the fall of 2017. You are welcome to walk around the inside.  

Related Tags

Architectural Oddities Outsider Architecture Lost Wonders Architecture

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Must make an appointment to go inside now.

Community Contributors

Added By

aerialdomo

Edited By

salazar, George Geary, ravendragonwing, nbj914...

  • salazar
  • George Geary
  • ravendragonwing
  • nbj914
  • CatnipTARDIS
  • herrmannfan

Published

June 26, 2011

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Sources
  • V. C. Morris Gift Shop: http://www.delmars.com/wright/flw8-14.htm
  • Wikipedia: V. C. Morris Gift Store: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V._C._Morris_Gift_Shop
V. C. Morris Gift Shop
140 Maiden Lane
San Francisco, California, 94108
United States
37.788265, -122.40589
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