NEW GLARUS, Wis. – The Wisconsin Historical Society announces the listing of the New Glarus Hotel in New Glarus (Green County) on the State Register of Historic Places. State Historic Preservation Officer Daina Penkiunas presented a certificate to Christina Bleifuss, Tony Zgraggen, and Allan Bachmann. The hotel is located at the intersection of Sixth Avenue and First Street in New Glarus.
The hotel has played a major part in New Glarus history since its initial construction in 1853. However, its significance is most closely associated with a program to promote heritage tourism within the village in the 1960s-70s. Community organizations and residents created a plan, dubbed Project Edelweiss, to turn New Glarus into a cultural tourism destination and a center for Swiss heritage and culture.
The promotion of the village’s Swiss heritage is exemplified in the New Glarus Hotel. Robert “Robbie” Schneider, who owned and operated the hotel between 1960 and 1975, was a prominent leader in bringing Swiss architectural elements and culture to the village. Under his ownership, the hotel became a beacon for Swiss folk culture and a major gathering place for locals and tourists alike. Schneider served authentic Swiss meals and held nightly performances of Swiss folk music to immerse visitors in a “Swiss” experience.
The State Register is Wisconsin’s official list of state properties determined to be significant to Wisconsin’s heritage. The State Historic Preservation Office at the Wisconsin Historical Society administers both the State Register and National Register in Wisconsin.
Additional information for the New Glarus Hotel is available at
To learn more about the State and National Register programs in Wisconsin, visit: www.wisconsinhistory.org.
About the Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. For more information, visit wisconsinhistory.org.
