Discover Art at the Historical Rahr-West Art Museum

Joseph Vilas Family (1893-1905)
The house was originally built for Joseph Vilas and his wife, Mary. It was designed by the Milwaukee architects George Ferry and Alfred Clas, who also designed the Pabst Mansion in Milwaukee. The house contains 13 bedrooms, seven full and partial baths, hot-water heat with six fireplaces, gaslight, and cistern water. Joseph Vilas was mayor of Manitowoc from 1893-1895. He was also a railroad and mining entrepreneur. Mary Vilas died of heart disease in 1901. Joseph Vilas suffered from a painful, incurable illness, and ended his life in 1905.

Reinhardt Rahr Family (1910-1941)
The house remained empty until 1910 when Reinhardt Rahr, president of Rahr Malting Company, purchased it. Rahr also served one term as mayor of Manitowoc in 1886. The Rahr family improved the home by adding nice wallcoverings, electric light, and city water to the house. Reinhardt Rahr died in 1921. His widow, Clara, donated the house to the city in 1941 to be used for educational and civic purposes as a museum and civic center.

Rahr Civic Center (1941-1975)
The Rahr Civic Center, with the aid of a grant from the Rahr family, was able to hire a professional director in 1950. The City of Manitowoc appointed a Board of Directors and proceeded to repair and remodel the house for a modest program of changing exhibitions and displays.

Rahr-West Art Museum (1975-Present)
By the 1970s, the Rahr Civic Center had outgrown its quarters and faced abandonment. John and Ruth West (founders of the West Foundation) became interested and offered their assistance. With gifts from both the Rahr and West Foundations, land was purchased and an exhibition wing was opened in November of 1975. The mansion was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. The brick front porch and entrance area was restored in 1979-80. In 1986, John and Ruth West added an additional gallery space for a rotating display of the permanent collection. In order to provide better class space in the lower level, the City of Manitowoc and the West Foundation collaborated in a 2007 renovation, which has provided an updated area for the museum’s expanded education program.