Business · India Bureau
Widow's determination saved iconic Frank Lloyd Wright home from highway
When Interstate 66 threatened to demolish a modernist masterpiece in the United States, one widow's resolute campaign preserved the architectural treasure for future generations. The Pope-Leighey House was relocated 13 miles in pieces to ensure its survival.
LSN India ·
In 1964, Marjorie Leighey faced losing her home to the inexorable advance of American highway construction. The Pope-Leighey House, designed by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, stood directly in the path of Interstate 66, slated for demolition as development swept across the region.
Rather than accept the loss, Leighey mobilised preservationists and public supporters in a determined campaign to save the residence. Her efforts transcended personal loss, tapping into broader recognition of the building's architectural significance and cultural value as a masterwork of modern design.
The solution proved innovative for its time: the entire structure was carefully dismantled and relocated 13 miles to the Woodlawn property, where it was meticulously reconstructed. The painstaking process of moving the home piece by piece demonstrated the feasibility of preservation alternatives to demolition.
Today, the Pope-Leighey House remains accessible to visitors, standing as both a testament to Wright's architectural vision and a monument to Leighey's preservation advocacy. Her struggle helped establish precedent for protecting modernist buildings from destruction, underscoring the importance of safeguarding architectural heritage amid rapid development.