Links to my writing about the 1914 fire and murders at Taliesin
Albert Rockwell took this on Taliesin’s Hill Crown looking (plan) northeast at its living quarters after the August 15, 1914 fire. The man standing might be architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
I often write posts around August 15 because it’s the anniversary of Taliesin’s 1914 fire and murders.
In fact, I’ve done so many posts linked to that day, many of my articles about that fire when you go to the SEARCH button on my “blog” page just don’t show up —
btw: to see more posts, click “Blog” and you’ll see my 10 previous posts, with links to more at the bottom of the page.
Unfortunately, it’s just a fact of working with Taliesin: a lot of people know about the fire and want to know what experts think.
And that’s me!
so I decided to put a post of just those articles here:1
The first fire, a basic description:
https://keiranmurphy.com/the-first-fire/
Wright didn’t employ a butler and there wasn’t a menu in August 1914:
https://keiranmurphy.com/what-was-on-the-menu-the-day-they-were-murdered/
Not directly related, but
a post about the book, Loving Frank:
https://keiranmurphy.com/this-book-is-going-to-be-big/
On that note,
“Was Mamah Borthwick the Love of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Life”
[my opinion, of course]
https://keiranmurphy.com/was-mamah-borthwick-the-love-of-frank-lloyd-wrights-life/
Regarding the fire, my post about
one of the myths I’ve identified surrounding the 1914 fire:
https://keiranmurphy.com/julian-didnt-seal-the-entrances/
And posts about the aftermath:
Statements
by those around the 1914 fire, including survivors, Julian Carlton’s wife, Gertrude, and, in part, Frank Lloyd Wright:
https://keiranmurphy.com/statements-after-the-murders-at-taliesin-in-1914/
Those affected by the 1914 fire:
https://keiranmurphy.com/the-tendrils-of-taliesins-1914-fire/
Finally, if you want to see Taliesin I:
(Taliesin 1911-14), I have these posts here:
Taliesin I photos that came to light:
First notice that Wright was building south of Spring Green Wisconsin:
https://keiranmurphy.com/this-will-be-a-nice-addition/
Early Taliesin in “Did Taliesin Have Outhouses?”
https://keiranmurphy.com/did-taliesin-have-outhouses/
My discovery of a Taliesin I drawing:
https://keiranmurphy.com/post-it-notes-on-taliesin-drawings/
That is the Oldest Part of Taliesin (part I):
https://keiranmurphy.com/what-is-the-oldest-part-of-taliesin-part-i/
That is the Oldest Part of Taliesin (part II):
https://keiranmurphy.com/what-is-the-oldest-part-of-taliesin-part-ii/
A post about Wright buying the hill where he built Taliesin:
https://keiranmurphy.com/buying-the-hill/
My post in 2024 on the “Flower in the Crannied Wall” statue:
https://keiranmurphy.com/flower-in-the-crannied-wall-at-taliesin/
Changes at Taliesin’s Hill Crown during the Taliesin I era:
https://keiranmurphy.com/change-at-taliesins-hill-crown/
Musical Note retaining wall at Taliesin that goes back to 1913:
https://keiranmurphy.com/the-musical-note-retaining-wall-at-taliesin/
My post about the Ebay auction of “the album” sold in 2005:
https://keiranmurphy.com/the-album/
Posted August 14, 2026.
Taken by Albert Rockwell. This media file is in the public domain in the United States. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Taliesin_After_Fire.jpg This applies to U.S. works where the copyright has expired, often because its first publication occurred prior to January 1, 1926, and if not then due to lack of notice or renewal.
- Hopefully next year I can just link back to this page.
