Inside the fabled Mabel Tainter Theater, which opened in 1890.

The City of Menomonie and its residents are rightfully proud of the Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts, which has been called one of the most beautiful theaters in the world and the second most architecturally significant building in Wisconsin. (No. 1? The State Capitol.)

So it’s no surprise that donors stepped up – pun intended – to fund repairs to the front steps of the historic landmark, which stands at 205 Main St. East.

“A lot of people think the Mabel is the heart and soul of the community,” said Lucas Chase, executive director of the Mabel Tainter. “It’s the most famous building in the community, especially for the downtown.”

Over the course of 134 years, Wisconsin weather and millions of footsteps had worn away at the slabs of Indiana limestone. “Some of those treads had lost an inch and half in their thickness over the years,” Chase explained. This made the steps dangerous, especially in the winter when sheet of ice formed in the eroded groove. In addition, water was leaking through the steps into the historic bathrooms below causing damage and preventing them from being used.

The exterior steps before ...

... and after a recent restoration project. (Contributed photos)

Early this year, the Mabel Tainter announced a fundraising effort, and $275,000 and three months of work later, a ribbon was cut above the new steps in early July. The construction, conducted by Building Restoration Corp. of Roseville, Minnesota, included bringing in newly cut slabs of Indiana limestone to replace the worn-out treads. The process also involved the removal of some of the pieces of Dunnville sandstone that surrounded the stairs and landings. That’s the same kind of locally quarried stone that makes up the rest of the building’s exterior. While most of the original Dunnville sandstone blocks could be reused, a few new ones had to be found – which was fortunate, because Dunnville sandstone was last quarried nearly 20 years ago.

Considering the building’s age and importance, maintenance is an ongoing focus at the Mabel Tainter, which hosts more than 90 performances each year (some of which are highlighted below). The arts center is now in the midst of a $7.2 million comprehensive campaign, which is meant to create a $5 million endowment as well as raise $2.2 million for capital projects – notably a new roof, which will be needed in the near future.

Maintaining the building will result in maintaining its cultural and economic impact, Chase said. “To have a facility of this age, almost 135 years old, to look so close to what it was when it was opened is pretty remarkable,” he said. “People of the community and of the Chippewa Valley take great pride in ownership of this building.”

UPCOMING PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

Since it opened in 1890 as an ornate, public memorial to the late daughter of a lumber baron, the Mabel Tainter has hosted countless local and touring performances. Here are a few highlight’s from the arts center’s upcoming calendar.

Jake Shimabukuro
Aug.. 11, 6-7:30pm | $52

If you know the ukulele, you might know the name, the innovator who is Jake Shimabukuro. He has captivated audiences around the world with his unique and dynamic style. With his mother as his first teacher of the instrument, Jake embraced a deep love and respect for the ukulele and has explored new and unexpected ways to push the boundaries of what was possible on the humble four-strings.

The Ozark Mountain Daredevils: The Final Tour
Sept. 12, 7:30-9pm | $80

The Ozark Mountain Daredevils have been aptly described as “a ragtag collection of hippies, bohemians, and musicians of no fixed ambition.” They have always been indefinable in terms of music genres, producing sounds of country-rock and electric bluegrass all on the same record; writing lyrics both whimsical and poetic, singing harmonies that would send shivers up your spine.

An Evening with Suzy Bogguss
Nov. 14, 7:30pm | $45

For Suzy Bogguss, life is all about connection. She's a living legend of country music, having earned eight Top 10 hits throughout the 1990s, including "Someday Soon," "Aces," "Drive South" and "Hey CInderella." From Grammy Award-winning performances to platinum-selling records, Suzy has proudly called her own shots for four decades, earning her stripes as a singer-songwriter, producer, and road warrior along the way.

Holiday Artisan Market
Friday-Saturday, Nov. 17-18 | FREE

The perfect opportunity to discover local artists and makers, as well as find some wonderfully unique gifts for your loved ones (or yourself) just in time for the holiday season.

Learn more about these and other upcoming events at mabeltainter.org.