Welcome to our Partner Spotlight series, where we introduce you to the people and organizations that help make Greater Lafayette a vibrant place to live, work, and visit. This month, we're featuring Nathan Allaire, Site Director of Samara, the iconic Frank Lloyd Wright home in West Lafayette. From preserving an architectural masterpiece to connecting visitors with its remarkable history, Nathan's work helps keep one of our community's most treasured landmarks alive for future generations. Read on to learn more about his story, his passion for preservation, and what's ahead for Samara.
1. How long have you worked for this business?
I have worked at Samara and with Indiana Landmarks since December 2022, shortly after the site’s multimillion-dollar restoration was completed. I was originally hired as Samara’s curator, and today I serve as the site director.
2. What is your favorite thing about working there?
My favorite thing about working at Samara is that it approaches preservation and interpretation a little differently than many historic house museums. Rather than feeling overly institutional, we try to help visitors experience the house as a living home and a deeply personal work of architecture, while also being honest about the ongoing care required to preserve it. It is incredibly rewarding to help create meaningful and memorable encounters with Wright’s ideas, the Christian family’s story, and the house itself.
3. What drew you to this line of work?
What draws me to this line of work, and to Frank Lloyd Wright specifically, is that his architecture was never just about buildings. His work feels deeply rooted in timeless ideas about shelter, nature, craftsmanship, and human connection, while also feeling radically optimistic and forward-looking at the same time. Historic preservation allows you to stand at that intersection of the past and the future, caring for places like Samara that still carry powerful ideas about beauty, creativity, and a better way of living, and then sharing those experiences with others so they continue inspiring people generations later.
4. Tell us about yourself?
I am not originally from the Lafayette area, but I do come from another state that starts with the letter “I”, Iowa. Even so, the Midwest has always felt like home to me, and I have really grown to appreciate the greater Lafayette and Indiana community. Relocating somewhere entirely new on your own can be challenging, but it has also been incredibly rewarding, especially because I moved here specifically to work with Indiana Landmarks and at Samara. While my primary focus is Samara, it has also been exciting to learn more about the area’s broader architectural heritage, especially since West Lafayette is such an unexpectedly rich place for notable mid-century modern architecture.
5. What is something that may surprise people about your job?
One thing that really surprises people about my job is how personal and immersive it can be, both from the standpoint of the architecture and the people. At Samara, I am not just simply caring for a historic building. I spend time inside these spaces every day, learning the rhythms of the house and observing how light, sound, materials, weather, and human activity shape the experience of the architecture. At the same time, so much of the work revolves around relationships with volunteers, visitors, students, neighbors, and supporters, all of whom bring their own stories and connections to the house. In many ways, it feels less like managing a museum and more like caring for a living work of art that continues to shape meaningful experiences every day.
6. Is there a project you have worked on that you are most proud of?
One of the projects I am most proud of is helping guide Samara through a period of major preservation and interpretation work following its multimillion-dollar restoration. That has included everything from launching and growing a new volunteer interpreter program, to major infrastructure upgrades like the HVAC and roof replacement projects, to researching and reintroducing aspects of Frank Lloyd Wright’s original interior vision for the house. What makes me most proud, though, is not just the physical work itself, but helping ensure that Samara continues to feel alive, meaningful, and inspiring for future generations.
7. Any future plans you’d like to share about the business?
We have many exciting plans in store for the future of Samara as we continue sharing its extraordinary stories with the public and helping people connect more deeply with the natural world around them. One major project currently in development is a Cultural Landscape Report, which will help guide the long-term restoration, stewardship, and thoughtful enhancement of the outdoor property while remaining faithful to Frank Lloyd Wright’s original vision for the site. These efforts go hand in hand with the development of new educational programs and resources for local schools that can be integrated into a variety of curricula and create more meaningful opportunities for student engagement. The change will not happen overnight, but when it does, I truly believe it will make a world of difference for our local community.
8. Any funny or wild stories to share?
One of my favorite stories happened during a tour with a group of homeschool students visiting as part of their studies. They were full of energy, curiosity, and nonstop questions about such an unusual house like Samara. Near the end of the tour, we demonstrate one of the house’s most memorable features: an original 1955 hidden television cabinet that rises dramatically from within the room. According to Frank Lloyd Wright’s original instructions, everyone has to throw their arms in the air together and say “Open Sesame!” for it to appear.
The students completely embraced the moment. They were laughing, dancing, and absolutely amazed watching the television rise out of the cabinet. But the best part came afterward. As they were walking all the way back to their vans, we suddenly heard the entire group shout in unison from the street: “OPEN VAN DOOR!” It was one of those moments that reminded me the magic of Samara continues long after people leave the house.
9. Do you have a favorite local spot to visit in town?
The greater Lafayette area has so many places I adore. A few of my favorites include the West Lafayette Public Library, which hosts wonderful community events and also happens to be home to the Samara archives. I also love the area’s walking trails and recreational spaces, especially Happy Hollow Park. Its winding trails can make you feel like you are hiking somewhere far beyond the city, almost like a small version of Turkey Run State Park tucked into the heart of the community.
Lastly, I definitely have a sweet tooth, so I love stopping by Mama Ines Mexican Bakery. They have an incredible variety of pastries, and my personal favorite is their chocolate cheese pillows.
10. Any upcoming events that we should know about?
In addition to our regular guided tours from early spring through late fall, we are also planning a special speaker event later this year focused on Frank Lloyd Wright and how his ideas continue to shape and influence our world today. More details will be announced soon, so I encourage people to keep an eye on Samara and Indiana Landmarks' social media pages and announcements. Visitors can also sign up for email notifications through Indiana Landmarks so they do not miss the opportunity once tickets and details are officially released.