The arts and cultural heritage are alive and growing in Manitowoc County. Opportunities for engaging in cultural exchange, pursuing your intellectual passions and investigating creative resources are plentiful. Experiences in live theater, dance, and musical performances are available through a variety of local ensembles, community groups and touring performances.
Museums and libraries expand the preservation of cultural resources and offer a glimpse at the unique heritage of the region defined through its rich cultural and maritime history, as well as the visual arts.
Some of the annual cultural events in the county include:
- Riverwalk
- German Fest at Pinecrest
- Metro Jam
- Acoustic Fest
- Hmong Festival
- Ethnic Fest in Two Rivers
Art
Rahr West Art Museum
610 N.Eigth St. Manitowoc
Phone: (920) 683-4501
Description: A community art museum with the primary purpose to preserve, collect, exhibit, educate about and interpret the visual arts. It preserves 19th, 20th and 21st century art, with a primary focus on American art, for the citizens of Manitowoc and the community of northeast Wisconsin.
Rudy Rotter Museum
701 Buffalo St. Manitowoc
Phone: (920) 682-6671
Description: See more than 17,000 unique sculptures, from miniatures to life-size, in wood, stone, bone and metal. Call for an appointment.
University of Wisconsin-Manitowoc Founders Hall Gallery
705 Viebahn Street, Manitowoc
Phone (920) 683-4700, Fax (920) 683-4776
E-mail manadmit@uwc.edu
Description: The Founder's Hall Art Gallery displays several art exhibits throughout the school year. Artists using different mediums are invited to exhibit their work for 4-6 weeks. In May, UW-Manitowoc art students finish the year by showing their works.
Manitowoc Carving Club
(920) 684-5672
Description: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and 10 a.m. to noon Thursdays at the Carriage House, Manitowoc. Everyone welcome.
Libraries
Manitowoc Public Library
707 Quay St. Manitowoc
Phone: (920) 683-4871
Two Rivers Lester Public Library
1001 Adams St., Two Rivers
Phone: (920) 793-8888
Manitowoc County Historical Society Research Library
1701 Michigan Avenue, Manitowoc
(920) 684-4445
Wisconsin Maritime Museum Research Library
75 Maritime Drive, Manitowoc,
(920) 684-0218, Toll free (866) 724-2356
Silver Lake College Library
2406 S. Alverno Road, Manitowoc
(920) 684-6691, (800) 236-4SLC
UW - Manitowoc Library
705 Viebahn Street, Manitowoc
Phone:(920) 683-4700
Museums
Wisconsin Maritime
75 Maritime Drive, Manitowoc
Phone: (920) 684-0218
Description: An educational institution dedicated to collecting, preserving, studying andinterpreting the artifacts that tell the story of the maritime industry of the Upper Great Lakes region, with emphasis upon the history and culture that makes Wisconsin unique.
Historic Washington House
1622 Jefferson St., Two Rivers
Phone: (920) 793-2490
Description: Free admission to a warm 1850 inn, old-time non-alcoholic saloon. Berners' Ice Cream Parlor commemorates invention of ice cream sundae. Also features museum rooms, and rare murals in ballroom.
Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum
Phone: (920) 794-6272
Description: Free admission to the world's only museum dedicated to the preservation, study, production and printing of wood type. Original machinery used to prepare and cut wood type. Patterns in Russian, Hebrew and Greek.
Two Rivers History Museum
1810 Jefferson St., Two Rivers
Phone: (920) 793-1103
Description: Free admission to this tum-of-the-century, former convent contains changing art exhibits and seasonal subjects. Three floors of ethnic, social, civic, historical and religious artifacts, photos and art.
Roger Street Fishing Village
2102 Jackson St. Two Rivers
(920) 793-5905
Description: Located on the banks of the East Twin River, the traditional headquarters of the Two Rivers' commercial fishing fleet. We have four historic buildings that contain exciting exhibits on America's most dangerous profession--commercial fishing.
Rudy Rotter Museum
701 Buffalo St., Manitowoc
Phone: (920) 682-6671
Description: See more than 17,000 unique sculptures, from miniatures to life-size, in wood, stone, bone and metal. Call for an appointment.
West of the Lake Gardens
915 Memorial Drive, Manitowoc
Phone: (920) 684-8506
Description: Six-and-a-half acres of formal gardens, including rose garden and Japanese garden, along Lake Michigan. The gardens are open and free to the public from the end of May through mid-October.
Woodland Dunes Nature Center
U.S. Highway 310, Two Rivers
Phone: (920) 793-4007
Description: A natural area that is a haven for wildlife and humans. Miles of hiking trails - two are wheelchair accessible. Educational programs.
Great Lakes Coast Guard Museum
13 East St., Two Rivers
Phone: (920) 793-1304
Description: The U.S. lifesaving service came to Two Rivers in 1880. It was preceded by a volunteer lifesaving company that was organized along the lines of a volunteer fire department of that time. H.M. Scove was keeper of the station prior to the arrival of paid, regular personnel.
Pinecrest Historical Village
Description: 25 historic buildings and special museum exhibits interpret farm and village life in Manitowoc County. A project of the Manitowoc County Historical Society.
Manitowoc County Historical Society Heritage Center
1701 Michigan Ave., Manitowoc
Phone: (920) 684-4445
Description: The center contains a research library, hosts, special events and exhibits and maintains a commitment to making the local history of Manitowoc County accessible to all.
Music
Lakeshore Wind Ensemble
Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra
Lake City Youth Symphony Orchestra
Clipper City Cordsmen
Theater
Capital Civic Center
913 South 8th Street, Manitowoc
Tickets (920) 683-2184;
Administrative Office (920) 683-1937
Masquers
Theater Capital Civic Center
913 South 8th Street, Manitowoc
Tickets (920) 683-2184; Administrative Office (920) 683-1937
UW Manitowoc, Fine Arts Series
616 North 8th Street, Manitowoc
(920) 682-1165
UW Manitowoc Theater
705 Viebahn Street, Manitowoc
Phone:(920) 683-4700
Peter Quince Performing Company
Email pqpc@pqpc.org
