Blue Sky Mausoleum
Posted by: Rayman
N 42° 55.379 W 078° 51.752
17T E 674441 N 4754478
This Wright-designed mausoleum was completed in 2004, and is in beautiful Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Waymark Code: WMCWM
Location: New York, United States
Date Posted: 05/17/2006
Views: 88
Frank Lloyd Wright designed Blue Sky Mausoleum at the request of Darwin Martin. It was the last of four projects Martin personally commissioned from Wright; the others were his residential complex, Larkin headquarters, and a summer home.
The men’s thirty-year friendship was deeply important to both of them. Martin championed and funded Wright, fostered his creative genius, and basked in his oversized personality. Wright, in turn, produced outstanding buildings for Martin, and rewarded his investment by making large, legendary footprints on the world’s architectural landscape.
Correspondence reveals that the two men discussed Blue-Sky Mausoleum between 1925 and 1928, and also reflects Martin’s desire to bring his family together for all eternity at Forest Lawn. Alas, it was never built. When Martin passed away in 1935, Wright said, "Today my best friend has died."
In 2004, Forest Lawn Cemetery faithfully rendered Blue Sky in conjunction with an architect trained by Wright himself, based on extensive research into Wright’s drawings, notes, and correspondence. Today, its broad stairs and soaring monolith rise toward the heavens, as Wright had envisioned and Martin had desired.
This beautiful structure will remain unique forever; its design has been retired. Blue Sky Mausoleum will hold a lasting place of renown in the international realm of memorialization architecture – Wright and Martin’s timeless legacy to the world.
(The above content is from blueskymausoleum.com)
You too can be laid to rest in this Wright-designed mausoluem. All 24 double-tier crytps are still vacant.
Tours are available of Forest Lawn Cemetery, which include the visitation of Blue Sky and many other graves of famous people, including President Millard Filmore.
Year Completed: 2004
Commissioned By: Darwin Martin
Nearest City or Town: Buffalo, NY
Public/Private: Public
Tours Available?: yes
Website: [Web Link]
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Visit Instructions:
There are no specific visit requirements, however telling about your visit is strongly encouraged. Additional photos of the building or house to add to the gallery are also nice, but not required. Pictures with a GPS or you in them is highly discouraged.