Frank Lloyd Wright and His Influence on Florida Architecture with Wayne Wood
Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 3pm
Leonhardt Auditorium

Free; Space is limited; pre-registration required.

Frank Lloyd Wright is considered by many to be America’s greatest architect. Although a majority of his buildings were constructed in the American Midwest, historians are often surprised to learn of his vast influence in Florida. In the early 1900s, long before he was commissioned to design Florida Southern College, he had a direct influence on many young architects who championed his style and philosophy in towns across Florida. Consequently, Florida has more Prairie-style buildings than anywhere east of Illinois. The audience will gain an in-depth understanding of this remarkable part of Florida’s architectural history.

Widely regarded as one of the foremost chroniclers of Northeast Florida’s history and architecture, Dr. Wayne Wood has been called “the undisputed godfather of preservation in Jacksonville.” An author, historian, artist, and educator, Wayne is founder of Riverside Avondale Preservation, one of the largest neighborhood preservation organizations in the Southeast. He also was founder of the Riverside Arts Market, a huge free arts and entertainment venue that attracts thousands each week. He has published twenty books on Northeast Florida, and his best-known book is the classic, Jacksonville's Architectural Heritage: Landmarks for the Future. His latest book is on the famed Florida architect, Kenneth Treister. A self-proclaimed “Arts Agitator,” Wayne is an honorary member of the American Institute of Architects, is a board member of the Florida Foundation for Architecture, and is the Historian-at-Large for the Jacksonville History Center. Folio Weekly magazine called him "The Most Interesting Man in Jacksonville."

Funding for this Florida Talks program was provided by Florida Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities.