Designed by visionary American architect Frank Lloyd Wright and completed in 1959, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is home to one of the world's finest collections of modern and contemporary art and is itself a masterpiece. Commissioned by Hilla Rebay of the Guggenheim to create a new home for the museum's collection, Wright expressed dismay at designing the new building inside New York City but created the infamous structure nonetheless. Inspired by designs found in nature and ancient structures, Wright's building allows visitors to explore from the top down at a leisurely pace.