Rahr West Art Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Joseph Vilas Jr. House
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | 610-616 N 8th St, Manitowoc, Wisconsin |
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| Built | 1891-1893 |
| Architect | George Ferry, Alfred Clas |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne style architecture in the United States, Shingle Style |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000035 |
| Added to NRHP | April 29, 1977 |
The Rahr–West Art Museum is a cool art museum in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. It's located inside a beautiful old building called the Joseph Vilas Jr. House. This house is so special that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's a great example of a building built in the Queen Anne style.
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The Amazing Vilas House
The Joseph Vilas Jr. House was built a long time ago, between 1891 and 1893. It was made for Joseph Vilas (who lived from 1832 to 1905) and his wife Mary (1837-1901). Building this big house cost a lot of money back then, between $35,000 and $50,000.
Who Was Joseph Vilas?
Joseph Vilas was a successful merchant. He also served as the mayor of Manitowoc two times. The house has 13 rooms and was designed by George Ferry and Alfred Clas. These architects also designed the famous Pabst Mansion in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
From Home to Museum
After Joseph Vilas passed away in 1905, the house was empty for a few years. Then, in 1910, Reinhardt Rahr bought it. He was the president of Rahr Malting. Later, in 1941, his widow gave the house to the city of Manitowoc. She wanted it to be used as a museum for everyone to enjoy.
Exploring the Museum Rooms
The Rahr–West Art Museum has many interesting rooms. Each room tells a part of the house's history or displays special art.
First Floor Features
- Entrance: The main entrance used to be an open area for carriages. In 1975, it was closed off. A modern stained glass entrance was added in 1950.
- Main Hall: This area used to be two separate rooms: a reception hall and a dining room. In 1950, a wall with a fireplace was removed to create one large space.
- The Rahr Parlor: This fancy room was used for art shows for about 20 years. In 1977, it was made to look like it did in 1910. The walls are covered in silk, and it has its original furniture. You can see a family photo and a bronze statue of Reinhardt Rahr here. One of the house's six original fireplaces is in this room. It has cool designs like columns and flowers.
- Art Display Rooms: Three rooms next to the parlor are used to show off different artworks.
Second Floor Discoveries
- John P. Nash Memorial Library: This room is at the top of the stairs. It was once a bedroom. In 1995, it was made into a library with gifts from Nash's family. It has a bay window, a fireplace mantel, and a marble sink hidden behind a door.
- Schwartz Ivories Room: This room used to be a dressing room or a servant's room. Now, it holds the Simon Schwartz Collection of Chinese Ivories. This collection was given to the museum in 1973. It has over 40 rare pieces from more than 300 years of history.
- Porcelain Room: Here, you can see a collection of beautiful hand-painted porcelain sculptures. These were made by Boehm Studios.
- Doll Room: Mrs. Guido Rahr collected dolls from all over the world. These dolls are displayed here. They include ceremonial, folklore, and popular figures from different countries. The room also has dollhouses with furniture from the 1930s, donated by Amy Brady. You can also see furniture from a Victorian dining room.
- Kamogawa Room: This room displays gifts from Kamogawa, Japan. Kamogawa is Manitowoc's sister city.
Museum Wings and Art Collections
- Exhibit Wings: Two new parts were added to the house to hold more exhibits. The first wing was built in 1975. The second wing was added in 1986. It was made to show and store a collection of American art given by John and Ruth West.
- Permanent Collection: The museum has amazing art by famous artists. These include Georgia O'Keeffe, Andy Warhol, Picasso, Eyvind Earle, and Milton Avery.
- Courtyard Garden: This garden is just inside the museum entrance. It was created in 1975. It has a bronze sculpture called Waiting by Bruno Lucchesi.
- Ruth West Gallery: This is the biggest exhibit space. About 10 different art shows are held here each year. Sometimes, it hosts talks and music performances.
- John West Gallery: This gallery has new exhibits every four to six weeks. It also sometimes displays art from the museum's own collection.
- Art of Tablesettings: In 1974, Ruth West started a community art event. It showed off wall art with uniquely themed tables and dishes. Over thirty displays are set up in the galleries for six weeks.
Sputnikfest Celebration
Something really interesting happened near the museum! On September 5, 1962, a 20-pound piece of the Sputnik 4 satellite crashed on North Eighth Street. This street is just east of the museum.
The Impact Site
The exact spot where the piece landed is marked with a ring on the street. Before the Soviets took the original piece back, a copy was made. This copy is now displayed at the museum.
Annual Festival
Because of this unique event, the city of Manitowoc holds an annual celebration called Sputnikfest. It's a fun way to remember the day a piece of space history landed in their town!
Images for kids
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The beautiful Rahr parlor
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John P. Nash Memorial Library
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Entrance on wing
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First floor entrance
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First floor hallway
