Warther Museum marks 89 years of artistry and legacy
Today, 89 years after it began, the Warther Museum still houses Mooney’s original carvings.
Eighty-nine years ago on May 10, Ernest “Mooney” Warther opened the first museum dedicated to his carvings. The museum, a single-room structure located in the Warther family’s backyard in Dover, became a showcase for Mooney’s craftsmanship.
Mooney began his work on the “Evolution of the Steam Engine” in 1913. By 1936 he had created enough pieces to present a complete, multipiece display. While Mooney focused on his carvings, his wife Frieda transformed the surrounding vegetable gardens into spaces filled with annuals and perennials. This added another dimension to the visitor experience at 331 Karl Ave.
Over time Frieda developed her own artistic expression through her button collection, amassing more than 73,000 pieces that she turned into displays.
Today, 89 years after it began, the Warther Museum still houses Mooney’s original carvings, now exhibited in a much larger facility. Frieda’s gardens continue to bloom, with many of her original perennial plants still thriving on the property.
The site has grown into a landmark of historical and cultural importance, recognized locally, statewide and nationally. It also serves as a Level 1 arboretum, a distinction made possible through the efforts of Mooney’s youngest son Dave Warther, who introduced a variety of tree species and expanded the outdoor area beyond the family’s original backyard.
The legacy of Mooney and Frieda Warther draws visitors from around the globe to Dover to witness the hand-carved, mechanized works of the man often called the World’s Master Carver.
To celebrate the 89th anniversary, the Ernest Warther Museum will offer a free arboretum tour May 10 at 9:30 a.m. Register at www.warthermuseum.com.