Thorncrown Chapel, Arkansas' great glass masterpiece (pictures)
Barely known at the time, Frank Lloyd Wright student Fay Jones became a worldwide star with his "Glass Chapel" in the Arkansas Ozarks. CNET Road Trip 2014 sat down in the masterpiece.
EUREKA SPRINGS, Ark.--Conceived as a folly by an alcoholic California schoolteacher, Thorncrown Chapel in this northwestern Arkansas hamlet, shocked the world. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright's most-accomplished student, Fay Jones and opened in 1980, Thorncrown Chapel won many of architecture's most prestigious awards.
As part of CNET Road Trip 2014, I came to the Ozarks to see the "Glass Chapel," Jones' biggest masterpiece, and a testament to the commitment of the schoolteacher, John Reed.
The front exterior of the Fay Jones-designed non-denomenational chapel, surrounded on all sides by the beauty of Arkansas' Ozarks.
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Interior empty
The interior of Thorncrown Chapel can be empty one minute and full with one or more groups the next.
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Chapel rear
Thorncrown Chapel, as seen from behind.
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Thorncrown Chapel
In the snow
Thorncrown Chapel is famous for being beautiful in all seasons and at all times of day. The design, like so many of Frank Lloyd Wright's buildings, and so many of his students', fits into the nature around it.
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Rear corner
A look up at the rear corner of the building, designed by award-winning architect Fay Jones.
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Thorncrown from the air
Thorncrown Chapel, at least the roof of it, seen through the treetops. This photo was taken using a DJI Phantom 2 Vision + quadcopter.
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Angled up
A look up at the front of Thorncrown Chapel, at an angle.
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Thorncrown Chapel
Lit up from inside
Thorncrown Chapel, lit up from inside at dusk.
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Side
A look at the award-winning building from the east side, from where you can see all the way through the chapel to the other side,
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Seats inside
A look out the west side of the building across several rows of seats.
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Congregation
Though Thorncrown Chapel has no regular congregation -- it caters mainly to visitors -- it welcomes people from all over the world at any time. So far, more than 7 million people have visited.
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Thorncrown Chapel
Lit up
The interior of Thorncrown Chapel, lit up at night.
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Out the back
A look out the rear of the chapel shows how Fay Jones made even the angles of the back of the chairs blend into the space.
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Trusses
Wooden trusses soar over the interior of the building.
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Thorncrown Chapel
Door lit up
Another look at Thorncrown Chapel, lit up in the evening.
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Through to the hills
A look out the east side of the building through the tall glass reveals the rocky hillside.
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Thorncrown Chapel
All lit up at dusk
Thorncrown Chapel, all lit up in the evening.
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Up at the trusses
Another look up at the Thorncrown Chapel wooden trusses.
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Straight up
At first the schoolteacher who conceived the idea of building a glass chapel in the Ozark woods didn't understand Jones' design.
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Worship Center
Just across the parking lot from Thorncrown Chapel is the related, also Fay Jones-designed, Worship Center.
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Down from above
A look down toward the front of the Worship Center.
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Straight down the middle
The interior of the Worship Center.
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Worship Center from the air
An aerial view of the Worship Center. This photo was taken using a DJI Phantom 2 Vision + quadcopter.
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Straight up
Looking the other way, toward the front door of the Worship Center.
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Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. We delete comments that violate our policy, which we encourage you to read. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion.