panoramic mural is the only intact painting of its kind created by internationally renowned artist George Niedecken, who painted many murals for Wright. The Sumac Gift Shop offers many Wright-related items.
At Dana’s request, Wright also designed a library for the Lawrence School in honor of her father, the late Rheuna Lawrence. Not too long after Wright designed the space — one of only nine interiors Wright designed for a building that wasn’t his — the school converted the library into a classroom. However, Wright’s original construction records were discovered in his Taliesin West studio, in Scottsdale, Ariz., and the library was restored in the 1980s. It is now part of the Lawrence Education Center, 101 E. Laurel St., 525- 3233. It is open to the public between 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Friday.
Traditional events at the Dana- Thomas House include the birthday party for Susan Lawrence Dana during the second week of October and the decoration of the home in early Christmas finery during the holidays. Dana-Thomas House, 301 E.
Lawrence Ave., 217-782-6776, www.dana-thomas.org. Open 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday (Closed Mondays and Tuesdays). Also closed on Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War Museum
The Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War was founded in 1885. In 1969, the organization built and moved into its current facility at 503 S. Walnut St. The museum preserves countless artifacts of Civil War history. Several flags on display were carried into battle. Other items include an impressive array of rifles, medals, photos, currency, drums, uniforms and letters from soldiers at the front. The organization also has a complete set of War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Other volumes relating to the war may be used for research on-site. A museum gift shop offers a variety of books about the Civil War. The organization recently bought an updated, 2,800 squarefoot “American foursquare” house next to the Daughters’ museum and office at Walnut and Governor streets. The 1898 home will be converted into research, library and special exhibit space, as well as
