When Samara, the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home located in West Lafayette, reopens this spring after a multi-million-dollar restoration, it will do so with its first full-time curator at the helm.

Nathan Allaire stepped into the curator role on Jan. 3, succeeding Linda Eales, who recently retired after 20 years as a volunteer, assistant curator and, most recently, part-time curator at the house. An Iowa State University grad, Allaire joins Samara after working for six years at another Wright-designed property, Iowa’s Cedar Rock.

“We are excited to expand the Samara curator position to full-time and look forward to growing our tours and programming under Nathan’s leadership,” said Marsh Davis, president of Indiana Landmarks and the John E. Christian Family Memorial Trust board of directors, the two organizations that co-steward Samara.

Eales added, “It has been a privilege and honor to serve as the curator and represent this wonderful home for Dr. Christian and his daughter. The restoration of the home and its offerings will be wonderful to experience for all.”

The year-long restoration project spearheaded by Harboe Architects of Chicago and Indianapolis-based Brandt Construction ensures that the home built in 1956 will serve as a learning laboratory for the work of Frank Lloyd Wright well into the twenty-first century. The project upgraded the electrical and HVAC systems, repaired the foundation, concrete, and brick driveway, fixed structural supports to the overhanging eaves, and refreshed finishes.

Funding for the work came from private donors, the John E. Christian Family Memorial Trust, Inc., and a $500,000 Save America’s Treasures Grant from the National Park Service.

Indiana Landmarks’ staff is busy returning the original Wright-designed furnishings to Samara and looking forward to reopening the home to public tours in the spring. “By repairing rather than replacing materials, visitors will see the same home with its historic furnishings they have known for years,” Davis said.

Information about Samara’s reopening and ticket sales will be posted to the Samara website (www.samara-house.org) as details develop.

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About Save America’s Treasures
The National Park Service (NPS), in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), awards Save America’s Treasures matching grants to support the preservation of nationally significant historic properties and collections. In 2019, Congress appropriated funding for Save America’s Treasures from the Historic Preservation Fund which uses revenue from federal oil leases to provide a broad range of preservation assistance without expending tax dollars. The program requires applicants to leverage project funds from other sources to match the grant money dollar for dollar.

About Indiana Landmarks
Indiana Landmarks revitalizes communities, reconnects us to our diverse heritage, and saves meaningful places. With nine offices located throughout the state, Indiana Landmarks helps people rescue endangered landmarks and restore historic neighborhoods and downtowns. People who join Indiana Landmarks receive its bimonthly magazine, Indiana Preservation. For more information on the not-for-profit organization, call 317-639-4534, 800-450-4534, or visit www.indianalandmarks.org.

About Samara
The John E. and Catherine Christian House, commonly known as Samara, is a National Historic Landmark located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The house represents one of the most complete works by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Public tours showcase the master architect’s design philosophy and innovations. Tours are slated to resume in spring 2023.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jen Schmits Thomas, JTPR, 317-441-2487, jen@jtprinc.com
Suzanne Stanis, 317-605-9962, sstanis@indianalandmarks.org