The Mississippi Museum of Art (MMA) acquired the Frank Lloyd Wright–designed property Fountainhead in the Fondren neighborhood of Jackson following the approval of the Jackson Planning and Zoning Board and City Council on Friday.
Fountainhead was designed by the renowned architect in 1948. It is considered one of his Usonian homes, many of which were designed as single-level bungalows for middle-income families. The 3,558-square-foot residence and its furnishings were subsequently completed in 1954 for J. Willis Hughes, who lived there with his family until 1980. The four-bedroom home was then purchased by the late architect Robert Parker Adams, who restored the property. It has been listed on the National Registry of Historic Places since 1980.
Originally called the Hughes House after its first occupants, it is also known as Fountainhead for Ayn Rand’s titular novel, which is believed to have been based on Wright’s life. There is also a fountain on the property.
Crescent Sotheby’s International Realty listed the house on the market for $2.5 million in June.
The museum plans to open the home for public tours, with buses transporting visitors to the house from the MMA’s main campus in downtown Jackson, and to establish strategic partnerships within the community.
MMA board chair Lisa Percy said in a statement, “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.”
Architecture and restoration professionals are expected to help bring the home back to its former glory and establish a plan to maintain the property in perpetuity. The property will be maintained and programmed under the museum’s direction. The museum has not yet announced an opening date.
