Kohler Headquarters and Plant, Wisconsin

The Kohler Company has a large plant and headquarters in the company town of Kohler, Wisconsin, just outside Sheboygan. It started out around 1873 as an iron foundry, but after making a successful enamel coated iron bathtub, it made mostly plumbing fixtures, and became the largest maker of toilets in the country. Kohler makes many other things too, such as furniture, and is a pioneer in ceramic technology. It is one of the largest producers of kitchen and bathroom faucets, and backup electrical generators for buildings. It also has golf resorts, hotels, and private clubs. The plant and headquarters and company town were established here around 1900, when the company moved beyond its original location in Sheboygan. In 1966, the Kohler Foundation gave the family mansion in downtown Sheboygan to the city to serve as part of the Kohler Arts Foundation, a museum, performance space, and residence program. The Kohler Foundation is one of the major caretakers of “visionary art environments” and grottos, including several in Wisconsin. The fact that many of these sites are made out of broken ceramics set in concrete is likely just a coincidence.