Jackson, MS…The Mississippi Museum of Art (MMA/the Museum) today confirmed its acquisition of Fountainhead, the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed property in Jackson’s Fondren neighborhood following approval by the Jackson Planning and Zoning Board and City Council. The residence and its furnishings were designed by the renowned architect in 1948, and completed in 1954 for J. Willis Hughes, who lived in the home with his family until 1980.
The single-family home was next purchased by the late architect Robert Parker Adams who spent years restoring it. In June, Crescent Sotheby’s International Realty listed the property. On the National Registry of Historic Places since 1980, it was originally named the Hughes House but is also known as Fountainhead because it is believed Ayn Rand’s novel “The Fountainhead” was based on Wright’s life. Also, due to the level changes afforded by the site’s sloping topography, Wright extended the bedroom wing into the landscape with a fountain that feeds into a swimming pool that, in turn, feeds into a stream.
Inspired by the success of institutions like Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and its acquisition of the Wright-designed Bachman-Wilson House, MMA leadership is expanding its mission by purchasing this significant architectural landmark and making it available to the public for tours with advanced reservations. The purchase is part of the Museum’s strategic goals to embed the Museum in neighborhoods across the city in ways that help accomplish their community building priorities.
Lisa Percy, MMA Board of Trustees Chair said, “This strategic acquisition is not only about preserving a culturally and historically important site—it is also a forward-thinking investment in the Museum’s vision for the future. Like Eudora Welty’s House and Garden and the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home, Fountainhead will become a must-see destination and unique experience for residents of and visitors to Jackson.”
MMA Laurie Hearin McRee Director Betsy Bradley said, “Under the Museum’s stewardship, Fountainhead will become a dynamic extension of MMA’s offerings. The site will be open to visitors for the first time, allowing access to this national treasure, inviting visitors to engage deeply with Mississippi’s architectural heritage and design legacy. In addition, Fountainhead will be activated through partnerships that enable it to preserve this important story and extensive archival collections related to it.”
Crescent Sotheby’s International Realty listing agent Douglas Adams stated, “For most of my adult life I have been a super fan of Mid-Century Modern Architecture and design, and especially Frank Lloyd Wright. When I became a real estate agent, the thought never crossed my mind that I would one day be a small part of such a momentous transition of ownership. Working with Bob Adams, Sherri Mancil, Betsy Bradley, the Mississippi Museum of Art, and many others has been a highlight of my real estate career. Not only have we forged a great professional relationship, but we have truly bonded as friends, friendships I will cherish beyond the day of closing. For me, real estate is much more than a transaction, it’s a journey where trust is given and friendships are made.”
MMA will begin work with architecture and restoration professionals to restore the home and fund a plan to maintain it properly into perpetuity. The property will be maintained and programmed under the Museum’s direction, ensuring its preservation and relevance for generations to come. Buses will shuttle visitors to the house from the Museum’s main campus in downtown Jackson. MMA will announce the opening date to the public at a future date.
Fountainhead is an example of what Frank Lloyd Wright called Usonian homes—typically designed as a single-level bungalow for middle-income families in the United States. Usonian homes feature native material, flat roofs and cantilevered overhangs, and natural lighting among other architectural elements. Designed by Wright when he was 81, Fountainhead contains four bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and two half bathrooms across 3,558 square feet including the basement and porches.
The .97-acre property integrates Wright’s signature principles of harmony with nature and organic design. The innovative design follows the contours of the landscape which determined its parallelogram shape for the module nestled into a wooded hillside. The diamond-shape geometry is repeated throughout the house and dictated the placement of the walls and shape of the interior spaces.
With the walls and ceilings made of Heart Tidewater Red Cypress wood, the house was built without stud walls, sheetrock, brick, tile, carpeting, or paint. Large windows enable ample natural light and offer views of the wooded landscape. Additional elements include Wright-designed built-in furniture, hardwood floors, wooden shutters, skylights, a carport, terrace, three fireplaces, and the original copper-sheeted roof.
Images Credit: G. Douglas Adams Photography
