House opens as a museum
In 1940 the family reopened the house as a museum.
In 1940 the family reopened the house as a museum.
Significant restoration was done in the late 1960s by Louise Zimmer Driggs (Piper’s great granddaughter).
In the 1970s, Mrs. Zimmer again reopened the opera house and maintained an active theater and summer concert series through the mid-1980s.
In 1997, the Piper/Zimmer family sold the opera house to Piper’s Opera House Programs, Inc., a nonprofit organization established to purchase the opera house. Archeological digs were funded by [...]
Today Piper’s Opera House is a fully-functioning and sought after Performing Arts Center. Theatrical performances, concerts, non-profit events and more continue to keep this historic house alive. [...]
In 1999, Piper’s Opera House was again reopened as a working museum. Restoration of the grand old structure continues with grant funding and public tours supporting the daily operations of the House.
Mid 1980s family finances and wear and tear on the building forced them to finally close the house.
From the 1860s until 1920s, Piper’s Opera House attracted famous stars from Europe and the United States and is listed by the League of Historic Theaters. It is one of the most significant [...]