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  • Visitors are welcome to wander the grounds at their leisure.

    Visitors are welcome to wander the grounds at their leisure.

  • The Saal - the largest room in the Waelderhaus.

    The Saal - the largest room in the Waelderhaus.

  • In the werkzimmer, visitors can view a Kachelofen - an enamel tile stove.

    In the werkzimmer, visitors can view a Kachelofen - an enamel tile stove.

  • The stube has a bregenzerwald style stove.

    The stube has a bregenzerwald style stove.

  • These traditional Austrian rooms represent a house similar to the one John Michael Kohler grew up in before traveling to America.

    These traditional Austrian rooms represent a house similar to the one John Michael Kohler grew up in before traveling to America.

  • The kuche is a preparatory kitchen with an open hearth.

    The kuche is a preparatory kitchen with an open hearth.

  • The Baden Powell Room contains a stained glass window featuring representations of Faith, Hope, and Charity.

    The Baden Powell Room contains a stained glass window featuring representations of Faith, Hope, and Charity.

  • The Baden-Powell Room contains a tapestry of Joan of Arc.

    The Baden-Powell Room contains a tapestry of Joan of Arc.

  • During the tour, guests will walk through the upper balcony of the Saal, offering a unique view of the room and of the Sheboygan River outside.

    During the tour, guests will walk through the upper balcony of the Saal, offering a unique view of the room and of the Sheboygan River outside.

  • The Saal contains beautiful stained glass windows mostly featuring alpine flowers like the thistle and rose.

    The Saal contains beautiful stained glass windows mostly featuring alpine flowers like the thistle and rose.

Waelderhaus

Guten Tag! Willkommen im Waelderhaus!

Tours are offered free of charge at 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm, and 4:00 pm.

View stained glass, wrought-iron craftsmanship and woodwork in the Austrian style of the Bregenzerwald region

Reservations encouraged for groups larger than 10 people, walk-ins welcome! 

 

Call 920.453.2851 or email jen.balge@kohler.com



 Waelderhaus will be closed on November 23, December 24, 25, and 31.

Click here to learn about the Gingerbread Festival 

 

 

 

Waelderhaus,  a rich history . . .

Situated among the trees on a high bluff overlooking the winding Sheboygan River, The Waelderhaus stands as a tribute to the tradition of Bregenzerwald (forest of Bregenz) Province of Vorarlberg, Austria. This picturesque mountain valley on the western border of Austria was the ancestral homeland of the Kohler family.

Located in Kohler, Wisconsin, Waelderhaus, or "a house in the woods," is a tribute to the architecture of this Alpine area, and stands as a museum of artistry and superb craftsmanship. Kaspar Albrecht, a talented sculptor and architect from Munich, spent two years designing and directing the building of The Waelderhaus. He also created the carvings, woodcuts, reliefs, and iron and pewter work that enhance the building, and personally designed and supervised all phases of decor, from maps and tapestries to curtains and rods.

The Waelderhaus is managed by Kohler Foundation, Inc. It is located at 1100 W. Riverside Dr. in Kohler, and is open daily (except holidays) to the public for guided tours at 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tours are offered free of charge.

For information or to make a reservation, please contact the Waelderhaus manager at: Jen. Balge@kohler.com or  (920) 453-2851.

 

Girl Scounts 1931 aac44384 Copy

The Waelderhaus Dedication Ceremony on July 27, 1931. Marie Christine Kohler stands in front of Waelderhaus with the girl scouts of Kohler Village. 


Plan your visit!

Waelderhaus Hours

Open daily for free guided tours at 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m. 

View stained glass, wrought-iron craftsmanship and woodwork in the Austrian style of the Bregenzerwald region, ancestral home of the Kohler family. Reservations encouraged for groups over 10 people, walk-ins welcome! Call 920-453-2851 or email jen.balge@kohler.com for more information.

 

Closed holidays and during some events.

 

Gingerbread Festival Hours

November 24 – December 30, 2023
Sunday through Friday: 1–5 pm
Saturday: 10 am–5 pm

Saturday and Sunday musical performances begin at 2:00 p.m.
(no guided tours are offered during performances)

 

Waelderhaus is annually closed:

New Year’s Day - January 1
First two weeks in January – deep cleaning and maintenance
Memorial Day - last Monday in May
Independence Day - July 4
Labor Day - 1st Monday in September
Thanksgiving Day - 4th Thursday in November
Christmas Eve - December 24
Christmas Day - December 25
New Year’s Eve - December 31

© 2023 Kohler Foundation, Inc