Our 2026 study tour will explore significant examples of 20th century architecture in West Lafayette and Columbus, Indiana. West Lafayette features Samara, a National Historic Landmark and one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most complete sites, and the former Purdue State Bank, one of Louis H. Sullivan’s iconic “jewel box” banks. Columbus, known as “Athens on the Prairie,” contains an assemblage of modern architecture and public art, initiated through the efforts of J. Irwin Miller, whose Cummins Foundation funded architect’s fees for new buildings, provided the owners selected a firm from a list compiled by the foundation.
NOTE: Attendees are responsible for their own transportation to and from West Lafayette and Columbus; a charter bus will be provided on day three. The study tour will begin at 1:00pm on July 29 with a visit to two sites in West Lafayette, and will conclude with the bus tour in Columbus on July 31 from 9:00am to 1:00pm.
Highlights of the tour:
WEST LAFAYETTE (DAY ONE)
-Samara, the John and Catherine Christian House (Frank Lloyd Wright, 1956)
-Purdue State Bank building - exterior only (Louis H. Sullivan, 1914)
COLUMBUS (DAY TWO)
-J. Irwin and Xenia Miller House and Gardens (Eero Saarinen, 1957) - shown above
-Cummins Corporate Office Building and museum (Kevin Roche, 1983)
-Two hour walking tour of downtown including interior stops in the First Christian Church (Eliel Saarinen with Eero Saarinen and Charles Eames, 1942), The Commons (Cesar Pelli, 1973), and the Cleo Rogers Memorial Library and Plaza (I. M. Pei & Partners, 1969; “Large Arch” by Henry Moore, 1971)
COLUMBUS (DAY THREE)
-Four hour bus tour of multiple building on the outskirts of Columbus with several stops for interior touring including the First Baptist Church (Harry Weese, 1965), Columbus Regional Hospital (Robert A. M. Stern, 1992), and the former North Christian Church, now the LEX library (Eero Saarinen, 1964)
A block of rooms has been arranged at the Hotel Indigo in downtown Columbus; breakfast is included. Two group dinners will take place at Upland Brewing Company (in the historic 1903 Columbus Pump House) on Wednesday, and at the Henry Social Club on Thursday. Attendees are responsible for their own lunches; space has been reserved on Thursday at Zaharakos, a historic ice cream parlor, restaurant, and museum.
The cost of the tour is $795 per person for a shared hotel room, and $995 for those who prefer a private room. The cost includes a $100 tax-deductible donation to Glessner House. A deposit of $250 is due to reserve a space on the tour; the balance will be due in early May.
The tour is limited to 22 participants.
Click Here to reserve your space on the tour and pay your deposit