A Closer Look: Graycliff
From the Photo series: A Closer Look: Explore Western New York’s architectural treasures series
Take a visual tour of Graycliff, the lakefront estate designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright for industrialist Darwin Martin and his wife, Isabelle. Built between 1926 and 1931, it was home to the Martin family until the Martins died in 1951. Now it's owned by the Graycliff Conservancy, which is in the process of restoring the property.
The Graycliff Estate, designed for Darwin and Isabelle Martin by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, sits on the rocky cliff overlooking Lake Erie in Derby.
The view out the corner window in the living room of the estate.
The grand hallway on the second floor.
The guest bedroom at the estate.
The newly restored sun porch.
Detail of a vase on a table in the window of the kitchen.
Detail of the statue "Pippa Passes" by Louise Allen that was recently acquired by the Graycliff Estate.
The view out to the pond from the front door of the estate.
The view northward along the rocky shores of Lake Erie give a hint to the origins of the name of the Graycliff Estate.
Looking toward Graycliff Estate.
Detail of the dining room table at Graycliff.
Detail of an exterior window off the kitchen.
Tour groups explore Graycliff Estate.
Another exterior view of Graycliff Estate.
The rear courtyard at Graycliff Estate.
The hood ornament of the 1927 Pierce Arrow Model 80 closed drive limousine, on loan from the Pierce Arrow Transportation Museum, parked in the garage at the Graycliff Estate.
The 1927 Pierce Arrow Model 80 closed drive limousine.
Detail of the many layers in the facade of the "heat hut" at Graycliff Estate.
Graycliff Estate.
Detail of the statue "Pippa Passes" by Louise Allen, which that was recently acquired by the Graycliff Estate.
A photograph of Darwin and Isabelle Martin with their grandchildren on display at Graycliff Estate.
The view out the dining room window at Graycliff Estate.
Graycliff Estate.
View out of the stairwell window.
Darwin Martin's sleeping porch at Graycliff Estate.
The grand hallway on the second floor of Graycliff Estate.
Detail of furniture in the guest room.
Detail of the window cut through the massive chimney.
The early electric refrigerator made by the Jewett Refrigerator Co. in the kitchen. There is debate over whether the unit is original, as surviving members of the Martin family recall stories of ice deliveries to the property.
The nameplate on the early electric refrigerator made by the Jewett Refrigerator Co.
A tour group walks in front of Graycliff.
Detail of the stonework at Graycliff.
Graycliff, designed for Darwin and Isabelle Martin by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
The stair tower down to the Lake Erie beach no longer connects to the top of the cliff, which has eroded since the time Graycliff was used by the Martin family.
Stairs lead up to the massive living room picture windows at Graycliff Estate.
A tour group gets to walk on the upper porch at Graycliff.
Graycliff, designed for Darwin and Isabelle Martin by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
Stones on the massive chimney still bear traces of numbers drawn in chalk by the careful masons who took it apart stone-by-stone and rebuilt it during a restoration.
Legend has it that a mason doing restoration work here fell in love with the property and left this heart-shaped stone to express his feelings.
View from a balcony at the adjoining Foster House at Graycliff.
In this Series
Photo series: A Closer Look: Explore Western New York’s architectural treasures
This series has taken Buffalo News photographers inside, outside, above and, on occasion, underneath local landmarks and to places most people…
