The Rahr-West

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The Rahr-West Named one of USA Today’s ‘10 Great Places To See Art In Smaller Cities,' our historic mansion houses So what are you waiting for?

The Rahr-West is the city of Manitowoc’s finest gem, a wonderful combination of an historic Victorian mansion and a modern art gallery. We like to say that it’s the place where art and architecture collide. And we were recently ranked by USA Today as one of the Ten Best Small-Town Art Museums in the United States. This unique pairing gives our visitors a variety of visual delights ranging from late 19th century furnishings and art to modern works created by the likes of Warhol, Picasso, and O’Keeffe. Additionally, the Rahr-West offers an array of art classes for both children (such as Pre-School Palette, After-School Picassos and Wacky Weekend Workshops) and adults (Ready-Set-Paint!, Senior Studio, Second Childhood and Still-Life Painting). The Rahr-West serves also serves as a cultural hub for an array of annual events that bring the Manitowoc community together to celebrate its diversity and uniqueness: Chairs for Charity and Sputnikfest (recognized by Reader’s Digest as one of their Five Favorite Funky American Festivals) to name but a few. Come join us at the Rahr-West for a cultural experience unlike any other! The official account of the Rahr-West Art Museum in the City of Manitowoc. View the City of Manitowoc’s social media policy here: https://www.manitowoc.org/DocumentCenter/View/32183/Social-Media-Policy. This account is maintained by the Rahr-West Art Museum of the City of Manitowoc. The general position of the City is to use social media as a limited forum, and the purpose is to inform, engage, and educate citizens and visitors of the City of Manitowoc. If comments or posts contain any of the following content, the comment may be subject to restriction by the City of Manitowoc, and would be hidden:

• Obscene or profane content;
• Promotes, fosters, or perpetuates discrimination on the basis of gender, race, creed, color, national origin or ancestry, age, disability, lawful source of income, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military service, or familial status;
• Unlawfully defames or attacks an individual or group;
• Promotes or endorses a specific financial or commercial entity;
• Defrauds or defames any financial, commercial, or non-governmental agency;
• Threatens or incites violence;
• Solicitation of commerce, including but not limited to, advertising of any non-City related event, or business, or product for sale;
• Content that violates any law or fosters illegal activity;
• Infringes on the intellectual property rights of others;
• Malicious or harmful software or malware. The official contact for any City of Manitowoc social media page is the department head of the department/division the page pertains to, and/or the City Attorney’s Office and Mayor’s Office.

This week: Drop in Tour: Mansion Tours, The Art of Tablesettings opens, and Class Highlight: Pour Painting - Adult Class
09/29/2026

This week: Drop in Tour: Mansion Tours, The Art of Tablesettings opens, and Class Highlight: Pour Painting - Adult Class

This Week: Drop in Tour: Mansion Tours, What city is this?, and Clay Cupcake & Owl - Teen Class
09/22/2026

This Week: Drop in Tour: Mansion Tours, What city is this?, and Clay Cupcake & Owl - Teen Class

The Rahr-West Art Museum Members and Manitowoc County Exhibit is an open biennial that features the work of local artist...
09/17/2026

The Rahr-West Art Museum Members and Manitowoc County Exhibit is an open biennial that features the work of local artists who are either members of the Museum or reside in Manitowoc County. Participating artists voted for the Artists’ Choice Award at the exhibit receptions on Sunday, August 23, 2026. All visitors were invited to vote for their favorite two-dimensional and three-dimensional work while perusing the exhibition.
Congratulations to the winners!

Stop by to see the Star Trek 60th Anniversary Pop Up Exhibit in the Lounge Gallery. From the impressive collection of Je...
09/16/2026

Stop by to see the Star Trek 60th Anniversary Pop Up Exhibit in the Lounge Gallery. From the impressive collection of Jeff Neuser, this is a Star Trek fan's delight to see.
Up now through September 20th, 2026.

This Week: Drop in Tour: Mansion Tours, Drop in Tour: Sputnik Surprises, and Couples Portrait Painting - Adult Class
09/15/2026

This Week: Drop in Tour: Mansion Tours, Drop in Tour: Sputnik Surprises, and Couples Portrait Painting - Adult Class

Join us TODAY for Sputnikfest 2026!
09/12/2026

Join us TODAY for Sputnikfest 2026!

Sputnikfest Drops TomorrowThank you to our title sponsor Community First and all of our supporters, including The West F...
09/12/2026

Sputnikfest Drops Tomorrow

Thank you to our title sponsor Community First and all of our supporters, including The West Foundation, Fricke Printing, Dental Park, Manitowoc Public Utilities, Maritime Ford, Kerry/Red Arrow and all of our Out-Of-This-World sponsors for making Sputnikfest possible

The Rahr-West Art Museum is closed today in preparation for Sputnikfest 2026.Packet pick up will be available for the Sp...
09/11/2026

The Rahr-West Art Museum is closed today in preparation for Sputnikfest 2026.
Packet pick up will be available for the Sputnikfest 5K Art Walk/Run from 3:30-6:00pm today.

Hope to see you tomorrow for another wacky-tacky time!

*The Museum will also be closed Sunday, September 13th.

This Week: Sputnikfest 2026, Museum Closed on Select Dates, and Drop in Tour: Mansion Tours
09/09/2026

This Week: Sputnikfest 2026, Museum Closed on Select Dates, and Drop in Tour: Mansion Tours

Get ready. Sputnikfest drops in one week - Saturday, September 12 at The Rahr-West!
09/06/2026

Get ready. Sputnikfest drops in one week - Saturday, September 12 at The Rahr-West!

When you look into the sky in Wisconsin you might see the Milky Way, or a plane, but you might see something…unidentified. In September 1962, a 20-pound object hurdled through the sky and crashed into a street in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. A UFO? The strange metal object was eventually identified as a piece of the Russian satellite Sputnik IV! A metal ring on the street outside the Rahr West Art Museum marks the place of impact and the museum has a replica on display inside.

Do you remember when this happened?

Each September, Manitowoc celebrates their connection to the object from space during Sputnikfest. It will happen this year on Saturday, September 12. Have you ever been to this out-of-this-world festival?

This Skullgard helmet was made from Bakelite plastic by the Mine Safety Appliances Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, likely in the late 1940s. MSA developed the Skullgard helmet in 1930, and this one likely originally had a metal bracket on the front for an electric cap lamp.

Years later, an unknown owner gave the helmet a whole new look—modifying, painting, and decorating it before wearing it at Sputnikfest in Manitowoc in the late 2000s!

A great example of how an everyday object can take on a new life and a new story over the years.

📸: Wisconsin Historical Society collections

Address

610 N 8th Street
Manitowoc, WI
54220

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 11am - 4pm
Sunday 11am - 4pm

Telephone

(920) 686-3090

Website

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