The population of Buffalo, New York, may hover around 250,000 today, but at the turn of 20th century this city on Lake Erie was a major urban hub. Indeed, over a hundred years ago, as an industrial port for shipping and manufacturing, Buffalo was also the country’s eighth most populated city. And in 1901 this town snug on the Canadian border had more millionaires per capita than any other city in America.

Enter Frank Lloyd Wright, whose Queen City clients included Isabel and Darwin Martin, secretary of the legendary Larkin Soap Factory (equivalent to the modern-day Walmart). Not only did they commission two residential projects but Wright also designed the factory’s iconic Larkin Administration Building. While that perished in 1950, the two estates—plus three posthumously constructed projects based on Wright’s designs—are open to visitors. The darling of Buffalo—the Martin House Complex—unveiled a major restoration earlier this summer. “This is the most comprehensive, extensive, and expensive restoration of any Frank Lloyd Wright building in America,” says Mary Roberts, its executive director.

While Wisconsin and Arizona are the locations typically associated with Wright's work, it's in Buffalo, of all places, that architecture enthusiasts can find a plethora of his work. Below, AD runs through the list of buildings throughout the city that need to be must-sees for anyone visiting.

The Martin House Photo: Patrick Mahoney

Wedged between historic homes in the Parkside neighborhood, the 15,000-square-foot, eight-bedroom Martin House—plus the Gardener’s Cottage and a home built for Darwin’s sister and brother-in-law—sits on a one-acre lot. Built between 1903 and 1905, the $52 million renovation spanned 27 years (well worth the wait) and included revamped, true-to-the-period landscaping. Consistent with Wright’s prairie style, “Tree of Life” stained-glass windows, a mosaic-tile double-sided fireplace, 24 of Wright’s Japanese color woodblock prints, and a conservatory are within, with garden views from every room. Wright designed 55 furnishings for the home—today all but five are originals. Now owned by the Martin House Restoration Corporation after being vacant between 1937 and 1967, then owned by an architect and the University of Buffalo, tours include one at twilight as well as a landscape-focused one to go deeper with the architecture. The Toshiki Moro-designed, glass-walled Greatbatch Pavilion and visitors center opened in 2009 and marries mod with minimalism, hosting the occasional yoga class.