We went to visit Dragon Rock, the home and studio of Russel Wright, one of the most important industrial designers of the 20th century. It’s on the grounds of Manitoga, Wright’s estate in upstate New York. Wright designed practical objects for the home, including furniture, dishes, lighting, linens, aluminum ware, wooden serving bowls, and silverware.

Russel Wright’s American Modern dinnerware was first made in 1939 by Steubenville Pottery in Ohio. It was the first mass-produced modern treatment of dinnerware, both practical and contemporary. Terry Kovel said, “If it was in the budget, almost every bride in the 1950s received a set of Russel Wright American Modern dinnerware as a wedding present,” and she was no exception. Between 1939 and 1959 over 200 million pieces were sold.

Wright and his wife bought the 75-acre abandoned rock quarry and logging site in 1942. It took him years to plan the home which was finally finished in 1961. Wright personally designed the house and its unique architecture and worked in the gardens. He diverted a river that flowed through the property to turn the quarry into a large swimming hole and made paths through the woods to create mossy sitting areas to enjoy nature. The house is built into the landscape and includes large boulders and other natural elements inside the building as well as a living plant roof. Wright used innovative designs and tested new materials as a working laboratory for his ideas. Every room has different treatments, like pine needles imbedded in the walls and a different door knob on every door.

Russel Wright lived and worked at Manitoga from the 1960s until his death in 1976. His daughter, Ann Wright, lived there until 2001 when she gifted her rights to the property. Public tours of the house, studio, and landscape began in 2004, and in 2006, Manitoga was named a National Historic Landmark.

Manitoga is located in Garrison, New York, about an hour’s drive north of New York City. It’s open June through mid-November. Tours are 90 minutes and should be booked ahead.