Ten miles north of Sparta you will find the Wegner Grotto County Park—a fantastic landscape of concrete sculptures decorated with thousands of glittering glass shards and found objects, such as seashells, china dishes, and arrowheads.
The Wegner Grotto, known locally as the "Glass Church," is named for its creators, Paul and Matilda Wegner. The German-born couple created these ambitious patriotic and religious monuments at their property from 1929 to 1942. Although neither Paul nor Matilda were trained artists, it is the Wegners' fantastic vision and their imaginative use of materials which make their Grotto a significant work of art.
The Kohler Foundation, Inc. purchased the Wegner Grotto from the Wegner family in 1986 as part of its commitment to preserve significant outsider art environments. The site was restored and gifted to Monroe County in 1987 to serve as a county park. Ongoing preservation and use of the Grotto is overseen by the Monroe County Local History Room & Museum. Today, the Wegner Grotto is a designated historic site drawing thousands of visitors annually. Additional information about and history of the Wegner Grotto is available through the Local History Room.
