# Louis Curtiss

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**Louis Singleton Curtiss** (July 1, 1865 – June 24, 1924) was a Canadian-born American [architect](/source/Architect). Notable as a pioneer of the [curtain wall](/source/Curtain_wall_(architecture)) design, he was once described as "the Frank Lloyd Wright of [Kansas City](/source/Kansas_City)".[1] In his career, he designed more than 200 buildings, though not all were realized.[2] There are approximately 30 examples of his work still extant in [Kansas City, Missouri](/source/Kansas_City,_Missouri) where Curtiss spent his career, including his best known design, the [Boley Clothing Company Building](/source/Boley_Building). Other notable works can be found throughout the American midwest.

## Life and career

Curtiss was born in [Belleville, Ontario](/source/Belleville,_Ontario), Canada.[3] He studied [architecture](/source/Architecture) at the [University of Toronto](/source/University_of_Toronto) and in [Paris](/source/Paris) before coming to [Kansas City, Missouri](/source/Kansas_City,_Missouri), in 1887.[4] In 1889, he began an architectural partnership with Frederick C. Gunn that produced over a dozen buildings.[4] When the partnership dissolved in 1899, Curtiss, age 34, continued as a solo architect.[5]

Curtiss designed the [Boley Clothing Company Building](/source/Boley_Clothing_Company_Building) in [Kansas City](/source/Kansas_City,_Missouri), which is renowned as "one of the first glass [curtain wall](/source/Curtain_wall_(architecture)) structures in the world."[6] The six-story building also features [cantilever](/source/Cantilever) floor slabs, [cast iron](/source/Cast_iron) structural detailing, and [terra cotta](/source/Terra_cotta) decorative elements. The [Historic American Buildings Survey](/source/Historic_American_Buildings_Survey) described Curtiss' residence for Bernard Corrigan as "an important regional example of the [Prairie Style](/source/Prairie_Style)" and "among the earliest residential structures in Kansas City to make extensive use of [reinforced concrete](/source/Reinforced_concrete)."[7]

Curtiss designed several buildings for the [Fred Harvey Company](/source/Fred_Harvey_Company) including the 1906 [El Bisonte Hotel](/source/El_Bisonte_Hotel) in [Hutchinson, Kansas](/source/Hutchinson,_Kansas), the 1907 Harvey House and hotel in [Emporia, Kansas](/source/Emporia,_Kansas), the 1907 Harvey House and hotel in [Wellington, Kansas](/source/Wellington,_Kansas), the 1908 Sequoyah Harvey House Hotel in [Syracuse, Kansas](/source/Syracuse,_Kansas),[8] and the 1909 El Ortiz Hotel in [Lamy, New Mexico](/source/Lamy,_New_Mexico).[9]

Other Curtiss railroad architecture included the 1910–1912 Union Terminal in [Wichita, Kansas](/source/Wichita,_Kansas), the 1909–1911 [Santa Fe Railroad](/source/Santa_Fe_Railroad) depot in [Sweetwater, Texas](/source/Sweetwater,_Texas), the 1909–1911 [Santa Fe Railroad](/source/Santa_Fe_Railroad) depot in [Lubbock, Texas](/source/Lubbock,_Texas), the 1909–1911 [Santa Fe Railroad](/source/Santa_Fe_Railroad) depot in [Snyder, Texas](/source/Snyder,_Texas), the 1909–1911 [Santa Fe Railroad](/source/Santa_Fe_Railroad) depot in [Post, Texas](/source/Post,_Texas), and the 1910–1911 [Joplin Union Depot](/source/Joplin_Union_Depot) in [Joplin, Missouri](/source/Joplin,_Missouri).[9] A number of his works are listed on the United States [National Register of Historic Places](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places).[10]

Curtiss died in 1924 at [his studio residence in downtown Kansas City, Missouri](/source/Louis_Curtiss_Studio_Building).[5] He never married.[1]

## Works

- [Boley Clothing Company Building](/source/Boley_Building), Kansas City, MO,[9] NRHP-listed
- [Bernard Corrigan House](/source/Bernard_Corrigan_House), 1200 W. 55th St. [Kansas City, MO](/source/Kansas_City,_MO) (Curtis, Louis), NRHP-listed
- [Glick-Orr House](/source/Glick-Orr_House), 503 N. Second St. [Atchison, KS](/source/Atchison,_KS) (Curtiss, Louis), NRHP-listed
- [Harvey House](/source/Fred_Harvey_Company) and hotel in [Emporia, Kansas](/source/Emporia,_Kansas),[9]
- [El Bisonte Hotel](/source/El_Bisonte_Hotel), [Hutchinson, Kansas](/source/Hutchinson,_Kansas),[9]
- Sequoyah House Harvey House hotel, [Syracuse, Kansas](/source/Syracuse,_Kansas), 1908.
- [Norman Tromanhauser House](/source/Norman_Tromanhauser_House), 3603 W. Roanoke Dr. [Kansas City, MO](/source/Kansas_City,_MO) (Curtiss, Louis S.), NRHP-listed
- [Western Branch, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers](/source/Western_Branch,_National_Home_for_Disabled_Volunteer_Soldiers), US 73 [Leavenworth, KS](/source/Leavenworth,_KS) (Curtiss, Louis, et al.), NRHP-listed
- Santa Fe depot and Harvey House and hotel in [Wellington, Kansas](/source/Wellington,_Kansas),[9][11]
- [Union Terminal](/source/Union_Station_(Wichita,_Kansas)) in [Wichita, Kansas](/source/Wichita,_Kansas), which is the 1910-1912 Union Terminal in [Wichita, Kansas](/source/Wichita,_Kansas)
- [Santa Fe Railroad](/source/Santa_Fe_Railroad) depot in [Sweetwater, Texas](/source/Sweetwater,_Texas) 1909–1911
- [Santa Fe Railroad](/source/Santa_Fe_Railroad) depot in [Lubbock, Texas](/source/Lubbock,_Texas), 1909–1911
- [Santa Fe Railroad](/source/Santa_Fe_Railroad) depot in [Snyder, Texas](/source/Snyder,_Texas), 1909–1911
- [Santa Fe Railroad](/source/Santa_Fe_Railroad) depot in [Post, Texas](/source/Post,_Texas), 1909–1911
- [Joplin Union Depot](/source/Joplin_Union_Depot) on South Main Street at West A Street in [Joplin, Missouri](/source/Joplin,_Missouri), from 1910–1911 (Curtiss, Louis), NRHP-listed
- [Argyle Building](/source/Argyle_Building_(Kansas_City,_Missouri)), 306 E. 12th St. [Kansas City, MO](/source/Kansas_City,_MO) (Curtiss, Louis; [Arthur S. Keene](/source/Arthur_S._Keene)), NRHP-listed
- [Mineral Hall](/source/Mineral_Hall), 4340 Oak St. [Kansas City, MO](/source/Kansas_City,_MO) (Curtiss, Louis S.), NRHP-listed
- [Standard Theatre](/source/Standard_Theatre_(Kansas_City,_Missouri)), 300 W. 12th St. [Kansas City, MO](/source/Kansas_City,_MO) (Curtiss, Louis S.), NRHP-listed
- [Louis Curtiss Studio Building](/source/Louis_Curtiss_Studio_Building), 1116–1120 McGee St. [Kansas City, MO](/source/Kansas_City,_MO) (Curtiss, Louis), NRHP-listed
- [El Ortiz Hotel](/source/El_Ortiz_Hotel) in [Lamy, New Mexico](/source/Lamy,_New_Mexico)[9]
- [St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway](/source/St._Louis,_Brownsville_and_Mexico_Railway) office building, [Kingsville, Texas](/source/Kingsville,_Texas), 1912[12]
- [St. Louis–San Francisco Railway](/source/St._Louis%E2%80%93San_Francisco_Railway) depot, 300 West Main Street, [Ada, Oklahoma](/source/Ada,_Oklahoma), 1913.
- One or more buildings in [East Douglas Avenue Historic District](/source/East_Douglas_Avenue_Historic_District), roughly bounded by Topeka, Rock Island, 1st, and English Sts. [Wichita, KS](/source/Wichita,_KS) (Curtiss, Louis S.), NRHP-listed
- One or more buildings in [Excelsior Springs Hall of Waters Commercial East Historic District](/source/Excelsior_Springs_Hall_of_Waters_Commercial_East_Historic_District), roughly along portions of East and West Broadway and Main St. [Excelsior Springs, MO](/source/Excelsior_Springs,_MO) (Curtiss, Louis S.), NRHP-listed
- One or more buildings in [Muskogee Depot and Freight District](/source/Muskogee_Depot_and_Freight_District), roughly bounded by Columbus Ave., S. Main St., Elgin Ave., and S 5th St. [Muskogee, OK](/source/Muskogee,_OK) (Curtiss, Louis), NRHP-listed
- One or more buildings in [Quality Hill](/source/Quality_Hill_(Kansas_City,_Missouri)) historic district, roughly bounded by Broadway, 10th, 14th, and Jefferson Sts. [Kansas City, MO](/source/Kansas_City,_MO) (Curtiss, Louis S.), NRHP-listed
- One or more buildings in [Westheight Manor District](/source/Westheight_Manor_District), bounded roughly by 18th and 24th Sts., Oakland and State Aves. [Kansas City, KS](/source/Kansas_City,_KS) (Curtiss, Louis), NRHP-listed
- One or more buildings in [Westheight Manor Historic District](/source/Westheight_Manor_Historic_District) (Boundary Increase), roughly bounded by State and Wood Aves., 18th and 25th Sts. [Kansas City, KS](/source/Kansas_City,_KS) (Curtis, Louis), NRHP-listed

## References

1. Kansas City Public Library, ["The Frank Lloyd Wright of Kansas City"](http://www.kclibrary.org/?q=blog/week-kansas-city-history/frank-lloyd-wright-kansas-city)

1. Sandy, Wilda & Hancks, Larry K. (1991). *Stalking Louis Curtiss*. Kansas City, MO: Ward Parkway Press. p. 12. ISBN 0-9629847-0-1.

1. Sandy, Wilda & Hancks, Larry K. (1991). *Stalking Louis Curtiss*. Kansas City, MO: Ward Parkway Press. p. 35. ISBN 0-9629847-0-1.

1. [Biography of Louis Curtiss (1865–1924), Architect, accessed on January 25, 2010](http://www.kchistory.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/Biographies&CISOPTR=26)

1. Sandy, Wilda & Hancks, Larry K. (1991). *Stalking Louis Curtiss*. Kansas City, MO: Ward Parkway Press. p. 54. ISBN 0-9629847-0-1.

1. American Institute of Architects Kansas City Chapter (2000). [*American Institute of Architects Guide to Kansas City Architecture & Public Art*](https://archive.org/details/americaninstitut00stac/page/29). Kansas City, Mo.: Highwater Press. p. [29](https://archive.org/details/americaninstitut00stac/page/29). ISBN 9781888903065.

1. Buerglener, Robert (August 1988). ["Bernard Corrigan House"](http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/mo/mo1100/mo1114/data/mo1114data.pdf). *Historic American Buildings Survey*. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. p. 1.

1. Latimer, Rosa Walston (2015). [*Harvey Houses of Kansas: Historic Hospitality from Topeka to Syracuse*](https://books.google.com/books?id=WFdyCwAAQBAJ&dq=Sequoyah+Harvey+House+Hotel+curtiss&pg=PT93). Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press. ISBN 978-1-62619-847-0. Retrieved 18 March 2020.

1. Sandy, Wilda & Hancks, Larry K. (1991). *Stalking Louis Curtiss*. Kansas City, MO: Ward Parkway Press. ISBN 0-9629847-0-1.

1. Latimer, Rosa Walston (2015-10-12). [*Harvey Houses of Kansas: Historic Hospitality from Topeka to Syracuse*](https://books.google.com/books?id=WFdyCwAAQBAJ). Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781625853707.

1. Photograph, "Office Building for the Frisco, Kingsville, Texas, Aug. 10, 1912", South Texas Archives, John E. Conner Museum, Kingsville

## External links

- [Louis Curtiss page at the Historic Kansas City Foundation](http://historickansascity.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=57&Itemid=83)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Louis Curtiss](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Curtiss) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Curtiss?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.