Historic Sheboygan County sites you can visit include John Michael Kohler House, Thomas Drug Store and two others
SHEBOYGAN COUNTY – Repurposed, restored or renamed, Sheboygan County has more than 50 historically recognized sites.
Some are notable for their contribution to the area’s commerce and cultural past. Others are valued for their centuries-old architectural details and aesthetics.
According to Wisconsin Historical Society, the county has 63 sites listed on state and national registries. Notable historic sites include the Wade House, Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts, the Kohler Company factory complex and the former Sheboygan Press building, which was repurposed into apartments.
John Michael Kohler House
The John Michael Kohler House, built in 1882, was added to the national and state registers of historic places in 1982 and 1989, respectively.
Now part of the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, it was a homestead of Kohler Co. founder John Michael Kohler. Other family members, Walter Kohler Sr. and Herbert Vollrath Kohler, lived there, too.
It is fashioned in the English interpretation of Italian Renaissance style. It's believed John Michael Kohler was the original architect of the home.
In 1920, Wisconsin architect Richard Philipp remodeled the home’s interior to fit the era, with Moravian tile and leaded glass doors and windows, according to a Sheboygan Press clip.
Philipp’s additional projects for the Kohler family included the American Club and the Riverbend home.
The house was given to the Arts Center in 1966 and has housed countless exhibits over the years. "Willie Cole: Home Assembly,” currently on display in the old home, explores how domestic life and enslaved labor are often “tangled.”
“By using craft and household objects in his artworks, Cole spreads awareness of women’s and enslaved peoples’ labor that has been ignored or under-recognized and is integral to the history of the United States,” the exhibit description reads on the JMKAC website. “These reflective works are Cole’s initiative to complicate labor histories and lack of visual representations in the art canon."
Pieces include commissioned sculptures and others across three decades. Cole completed an Arts/Industry Program pottery residency in 2000. His works are on display until the end of April 2025.
The JMKAC is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
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Thomas Drug Store
The former Thomas Drug Store at 632 N. Eighth St. in Sheboygan was named to the national and state register of historic places in 1974 and 1989, respectively.
The property was bought by Max Zaegel in 1886 for a new retail drug store, according to a Sheboygan Press clip. Twenty years later, a store clerk named I.C. Thomas purchased the business and renamed it I.C. Thomas Drug Store. In the 1950s, it reportedly was one of the last Eastman camera and photo supply dealers and sold prescriptions, chemist materials, herbs and oil.
The space was later occupied by the Golden Palate Delicatessen in the 1990s, followed by the New York on 8th Street Deli.
Now, it’s home to The Last Sheepicorn yarn shop, which opened in the lower floor in April, and Big Brothers Big Sisters Wisconsin Shoreline in the upper floor.
Villa Von Baumbach
The Villa Von Baumbach, 754 Elkhart Lake Drive, was a summer home for Major Charles von Baumbach, a Civil War veteran and a retired businessman who owned a large drug supply company in Milwaukee.
The home was built on the Schwartz Hotel grounds in 1894, according to a Sheboygan Press clip, so it could take advantage of the hotel dining and recreation amenities.
At that time, Elkhart Lake was often a retreat for wealthy Midwest city dwellers from Chicago and St. Louis.
When it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, the summer cottage was still owned by members of the von Baumbach family. It was partially selected for the national recognition because it served as a “representative of the era.”
Its notable architectural features included a boathouse pavilion, veranda and upper balcony. Villa Von Baumbach is listed as a destination on Airbnb, equipped with fishing supplies, a canoe, a kayak and a ping pong table. The cottage has six bedrooms, 11 beds and three bathrooms, according to the listing.
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Downtown Plymouth Historic District
The heart of downtown Plymouth was added to the state and national registers of historic places only eight years ago, notable for its historic commercial significance dating back to the 1850s.
The registry summary of the area notes it housed a variety of businesses — a post office, theater, hotel, bank and store for groceries, hardware, farm supplies, furniture, shoes and more.
The registered district spans the 100 through 400 blocks on East Mill Street, including 46 properties. Present-day businesses include Brittany’s School of Dance, Moxie, City Club Tavern & Grill and Bluebird Baby & Toys.
The street is also home to the Cheese Counter and Dairy Heritage Center and a route for the Memorial Day and Cheese Capital Festival parades.
Have a story tip? Contact Alex Garner at 224-374-2332 or [email protected]. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @alexx_garner.
This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Sheboygan County historic sites to visit include Kohler House, villa
