Prophet Isaiah Roberston’s Second Coming House Celebrates Art Preservation Completion & Grand Opening

Prophet Isaiah Roberston’s Second Coming House Celebrates Art Preservation Completion & Grand Opening



(Niagara Falls, NY) – The Niagara Falls National Heritage Area is delighted to announce the completion of art preservation work at the Prophet Isaiah Robertson’s Second Coming House. On August 9 & 10, 2024, the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area will welcome the Kohler Foundation, B.R. Howard & Associates, distinguished guests, and the entire community to the Opening Weekend of Prophet Isaiah Robertson’s Second Coming House. The House is an artist-built environment envisioned and constructed by Isaiah Robertson, an artist, carpenter, and self-proclaimed prophet who turned his home into an intricate work of art. 

Following Isaiah Robertson’s passing in 2020, the Kohler Foundation purchased the home, initiated a preservation process with B.R. Howard & Associates, and gifted the property and artworks to the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area as the long-term steward. This monumental preservation project ensures that this unique art environment remains in the North End of Niagara Falls, allowing it to be cherished for generations to come.

On Friday, August 9, 2024, the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area will host partners, elected officials, stakeholders, and media for a press conference, private tours and an invite-only reception. 

Following, on Saturday, August 10, 2024, the public is invited to visit the House for its first public viewing of the site from 10am-4pm, followed by an RSVP-required evening reception in the backyard from 5pm-9pm. 

10am-4pm - Public Viewing: The public is invited to view the space with Niagara Falls National Heritage Area staff on hand to answer questions, discuss the project, and offer insight on how this unique art environment came to be.

5pm-9pm - Evening Reception: Join us for food and drink on site to celebrate this remarkable community treasure. Registration is required to attend the evening reception as space is limited, so please use the registration form on this page to let us know you're coming. Online registration is required to attend, and will close once capacity is reached. To register, visit discoverniagara.org/pih.

With the completion of the art preservation process and the opening of the Prophet Isaiah Robertson Second Coming House, the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area is working to ensure that programs that benefit the Highland Community and educate the public are

implemented. The next steps include plans to create a multi-use community and artist space in the backyard and interior spaces of the House. As the stewards of the Prophet Isaiah Robertson Second Coming House, the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area is dedicated to preserving this unique art environment, and creating a community-driven heritage center, wherein visitors and locals alike can not only learn about art environments, art preservation, and Prophet Isaiah Robertson, but also come together to celebrate the Highland Community.

Learn more about Prophet Isaiah Robertson, the project, and how to visit by visiting the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area’s page: ProphetIsaiahHouse.org.

 About Niagara Falls National Heritage Area

The Niagara Falls National Heritage Area is one of 62 National Heritage Areas in the United States. Designated by the United States Congress in 2008, its mission is to preserve, protect and promote the historic, natural and cultural resources of the area stretching from Niagara Falls to Old Fort Niagara in Youngstown, New York. The Niagara Falls National Heritage Area facilitates partnerships between artists, public and private organizations, and community members and stakeholders to envision and create public art, impacting the cultural landscape with pieces that reflect and honor the history and legacy of Niagara Falls. To date, the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area has facilitated over 40 public art projects in Niagara Falls. Learn more at discoverniagara.org.

About the Kohler Foundation

Established in 1940, the Kohler Foundation since the 1970s has focused on the preservation

of art environments, folk architecture and the collections of self-taught artists. They are at

the forefront of the art environment field, and their collection is housed at the John Michael

Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The Kohler Foundation provided the funding for the restoration of the exterior artworks of the House, and worked with B.R. Howard and the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area to restore the site as accurately as possible.

About B.R. Howard & Associates

Established in 1989, B.R. Howard & Associates takes a holistic approach to conservation, working with preservationists, conservationists, craftsmen, and technicians. B.R. Howard & Associates’ focus on not only preserving artifacts, but also on stabilizing the art to last for decades to come. They specialize in a wide range of artistic mediums, and were in charge of the vast conservation and recreation of all the exterior art at the Prophet Isaiah Robertson’s Second Coming House, a lengthy process that was completed in Fall 2023.