House on the Rock

As we traveled and mentioned we would be going to Lake Delton, Wisconsin, we were often told we needed to visit “House on the Rock” while in the area. Yet those making the recommendation had difficulty describing the place. Now I share the same problem.

It is a rambling tour through multiple connected buildings that display the extensive collections of a somewhat eccentric man – Alex Jordan. It started with a house he built in the 1940’s around a 60’ chimney rock. The rooms of the multi-story house circle the rock so that at least one wall is formed by the rock. The ceilings are very low and the house is rather dark, so you get the feeling of being in a house built within a cave. I assume this is the desired effect. Mr. Jordan had a vision or an atmosphere he was trying to convey in the house and all the subsequent displays he constructed through the years. He did not start out to create a tourist attraction, but so many people stopped by for a tour of the house he finally decided to turn it into one. It opened to the public in 1960. He used the proceeds to expand his collections and add more rooms and buildings.

So what did he collect? Just about everything it seems. A few of the things I can recall: antique toys, guns and all types of weapons, merry-go-round horses,
doll houses,

From 9-08 House on the Rock

miniature circus tents and circus toy sets,

From 9-08 House on the Rock

model airplanes and ships,

From 9-08 House on the Rock

huge automatic player organs and fully automated bands,

From 9-08 House on the Rock

and antique automobiles. Most of these collections are extensive – often hundreds of items.

Being a fan of the antiques road show on PBS, we cannot imagine how much all of this is worth. We will see some rare item on the TV show estimated at say $10,000. We will turn to one another and say “Good grief – there must have been 30 or 40 of those at “House on the Rock”.

Yet we have a complaint about the way all these items were displayed. While almost all the items are museum quality, the workers are quick to point out that Mr. Arnold did not want this to be a museum. He wanted his collections displayed as an “attraction” following the vision or atmosphere he was trying to create. For example one area is titled “Streets of Yesterday”.

From 9-08 House on the Rock

This displays items seen in shop windows in the late 1800’s. It is designed to appear in an evening setting with simulated gas lighting. Thus is all quite dim and some things are difficult to see and fully appreciate. This problem with dim lighting happens in other places throughout the tour such as this antique steam tractor somewhat hidden away in a dim corner.

From 9-08 House on the Rock

Plus there are places that are dusty or where there does not appear to be adequate climate control to prevent deterioration of things like antique doll clothing. We can see lots of money being spent on new buildings and future displays. It is sad that more is not being done to protect existing collections.

Still it is a fascinating place to visit. Do go if you are ever in southern Wisconsin.

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