Public Museum, Grand Rapids

The Voigt House Victorian Museum, located in historic Heritage Hill, was the home of the well-known Voigt family, who established their place in Grand Rapids’ society as successful merchants and flour mill entrepreneurs. Carl Voigt emigrated from Prussia to the United States in 1847 at the age of 14. He went on to open two dry goods stores with partner William G. Herpolsheimer before focusing on the milling business. Built in 1895 - 96, the three-story treasure at 115 College SE was home to the Voigts for 76 years and offers visitors today a glimpse into the life of a prominent Michigan family in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.

Chateauesque architecture is complimented by the period features within the house. The Voigts installed huge cisterns to collect rainwater from the roof, which was used for nearly every purpose other than drinking. The lighting reflects the times; due to the unreliability of electricity, the lamps throughout the house utilize both electricity and gas. Hot water radiators and Adam style fireplaces heated the rooms while the large icebox in the pantry supplied the only refrigeration. The back of the home was reserved for the domestic help, a common arrangement for households in the higher social classes. The distinction between service areas and family areas is made evident in every detail, such as a door with an elegant knob on the family’s side and a plain one facing the servants’ quarters. The kitchen still holds the call box that houses the bell and arrow system used to ring for the servants’ attention.

What makes the house so unusual is that fact that time did not alter it. The lower level was decorated in 1907 and it simply was never updated. The family walked on the original carpets for over 75 years and today’s visitors walk on them still. The same silk and tapestry wall coverings have been hanging for over a century. From common kitchen utensils to the family clothing the Voigts unknowingly created a fascinating historical collection of life in the late Victorian period.

The house features the details that speak both of an era and of unique individuals. Many pieces in the home reflect the personality of the family; for example, the pride in their milling business is shown in a wooden rocking chair that sprouts elegantly carved ears of corn. On the staircase landing, two massive paintings of young lovers were, in fact, created by daughter Amanda and displayed by proud parents. Every photograph and object has a story. The intimate connection a visitor feels with the family is apparent in every direction, from the prescription bottles in the medicine cabinet labeled for “Miss Voigt” to the well-worn toothbrush by the sink.

Ralph Voigt, the youngest child and a bachelor who lived in the house since its construction, died in 1971. At his death, fifty percent of the estate, including the house, was left to the Grand Rapids Foundation. Like many homes in the area, it was threatened by expanding commercial development. Thus, the Kent County Council for Historic Preservation arranged with the Foundation to operate the house as a museum. The Council purchased the home in 1972 and donated it to the city two years later, yet continued to oversee its operation for the next 15 years until the costs became too demanding.

The house is now a property of the Public Museum of Grand Rapids. During the 1990’s, a new slate roof, a replica of the original, was put in and the upper brick walls, chimneys and water collection system were rebuilt with money from large preservation grants. All of the wood in the front porch, windows and roof trim was restored and returned to its original color scheme. The interior furnishings and family possessions on display represent just some of the extensive collections stored within the house. Seasonally, educational programs and exhibits introduce visitors to aspects of the Victorian Era and supplement these furnished rooms. Often objects are brought in from the permanent collection of the Public Museum of Grand Rapids. These temporary displays have had themes such as Victorian weddings, travel, funerals, and calling cards.