SC Johnson hosted the dedication of the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail in the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Administration Building.
The event included remarks by Fisk Johnson, Gov. Scott Walker and Wisconsin Secretary of Tourism Stephanie Klett.
RACINE, Wis., May 10, 2017 – Today SC Johnson Chairman and CEO Fisk Johnson, together with Gov. Scott Walker and the Wisconsin Department of Tourism dedicated the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail in the Great Workroom at the company’s Wright-designed Administration Building. The building, which opened in 1939, is the first stop on the trail and the only remaining operational corporate headquarters that Wright designed.
The event included a trail ribbon cutting and remarks by Fisk Johnson, Gov. Scott Walker and Wisconsin Secretary of Tourism Stephanie Klett.
“In 1936, my grandfather’s bold decision to choose Frank Lloyd Wright to design the company’s new Administration Building was an early visible sign of the company’s commitment to excellence and innovation, two values of the highest importance to both SC Johnson and Wright himself,” said Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson.
Johnson continued, “Frank Lloyd Wright was an interesting and colorful man and his presence in Wisconsin makes our state more colorful and interesting, too. That’s why it’s great to have the new Frank Lloyd Wright Trail, which recognizes his genius that lives still today in Wisconsin.”
The Frank Lloyd Wright Trail was established in 2016 to connect nine Wright-designed historical sites in southern Wisconsin. The trail takes visitors on a self-guided architectural tour through nine counties; three of the historical sites are located in Racine. The idea for the trail originally surfaced in conversations between SC Johnson and Wis. State Rep. Cory Mason, and gained momentum with support from Speaker Robin Vos.
The nine stops on the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail include the SC Johnson Administration Building and Research Tower, Wingspread, Burnham American System Built Homes, Monona Terrace, First Unitarian Society Meeting House, Taliesin and Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center, Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center and the AD German Warehouse.
“We’re excited to celebrate the dedication and official opening of the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail here today at SC Johnson, which is home to two of the trail stops,” Governor Walker said. “Our tourism industry has come together to create this trail to honor Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy and highlight some of his amazing creations right here in Wisconsin. Lovers of architecture and nature alike are sure to enjoy this spectacular trail, and we invite travelers from far and wide to put the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail on your bucket list this year.”
“The Department of Tourism is pleased to partner with SC Johnson to bring the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail to life,” said Wis. Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett. “The trail will create greater visitation to Wisconsin and introduce visitors from around the world to our beautiful state and the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright.”
Visitors to the trail can use the newly launched Frank Lloyd Wright Trail mobile app to guide their way along the nine historical sites. The app is a comprehensive resource for visitors, allowing them to schedule a tour, learn more about each Trail site and track the distance between each location. Now available for free on the App Store, it was designed by the University of Wisconsin-Parkside’s App Factory, sponsored by SC Johnson.
The SC Johnson Gallery
Also opening today is The SC Johnson Gallery: At Home with Frank Lloyd Wright, a rotating selection of Wright’s designs and artifacts that explores the legendary architect’s influence on families and the American home. Located in SC Johnson’s Fortaleza Hall, The Gallery is the result of a July 2011 agreement between SC Johnson and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation for a long-term loan of a collection of Wright artifacts.
In celebration of Frank Lloyd Wright’s birth in Wisconsin 150 years ago this year, SC Johnson presents the latest installment in the gallery, titled On the Wright Trail which includes examples of Wright’s architectural designs, furniture and textiles. Artwork from the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and SC Johnson collections are shown alongside large-scale photographs of Wright interiors and many of the locations and settings of his buildings, offering the viewer an unprecedented opportunity to study the architect’s design practice across different areas, media, and time. The exhibition covers almost the entirety of the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail in Wisconsin — from both his youthful and mature experiments in and around Spring Green to groundbreaking homes in Madison and Milwaukee — through the inclusion of 26 models of some of the architect’s greatest designs, crafted by retired Janesville architect, Ron Olsen.
Along with The Gallery, SC Johnson offers The Lily Pad, a unique gift shop featuring exclusive SC Johnson memorabilia and brand gift merchandise, as well as Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired items. The Lily Pad is open in conjunction with all tours.
SC Johnson Corporate Headquarters Tour
SC Johnson’s 2017 campus summer tour season also opens today. The company’s signature Landmarks Tour is 1 hour and 30 minutes in duration, and is offered to the public free of charge Thursday through Sunday. This tour includes the Administration Building and the 15-story Research Tower, as well as the Foster + Partners-designed Fortaleza Hall (which includes the Timeline Tunnel and The Lily Pad gift shop). Tour reservations are required and can be made at this link www.scjohnson.com/visit
Chicago Architecture Biennial
Continuing the company’s commitment to inspired architecture, this fall SC Johnson will be the Presenting Sponsor of the 2017 Chicago Architecture Biennial. The biennial is an international exhibition of contemporary architecture drawing participants from more than 30 countries and will take place from Sept. 16 to Dec. 31.
About SC Johnson
SC Johnson is a family company dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, pest control and shoe care, as well as professional products. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE®, KIWI®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, TANA®, BAMA®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, MR MUSCLE® and RIDSECT®. The 131-year-old company, which generates $10 billion in sales, employs approximately 13,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world. www.scjohnson.com
