Beyond its carved façade, the Chalet of the Golden Fleece holds rare Swiss folk art, global artifacts and the legacy of Edwin Barlow, whose vision helped make New Glarus America's Little Switzerland.

For decades, thousands of people have driven past the Chalet of the Golden Fleece on Second Street, admiring its distinctive Swiss architecture before continuing on to downtown New Glarus. Many have never stepped through its front door.

Those who do often leave wondering how they overlooked one of the community's greatest cultural treasures. It is a reaction Sandy Blum of the Friends of the Chalet of the Golden Fleece said she hears repeatedly from local residents who finally decide to stop in.

Built in 1937-38 as the home of Edwin Barlow and designed by New Glarus architect Jacob Rieder as an authentic Bernese mountain chalet, the building itself is a destination. In 1955, Barlow donated both the chalet and its extraordinary collection of artifacts to the Village of New Glarus, ensuring future generations could experience Swiss culture, craftsmanship and history firsthand. Today, the property is listed on both the Wisconsin State and National Registers of Historic Places.