In the early 1890's men of the Valton, WI, area community organized a "camp" or local unit of the Modern Woodmen of America. The M.W.A. was one of many fraternal societies that flourished throughout the United States at the turn of the 20th century. In 1897 German immigrant Ernest Hűpeden arrived in Valton, at the time the local chapter of the Modern Woodmen Association was nearing completion of their new meeting hall. While little is known about Hűpeden, it is known that he arrived in New York aboard a ship called The Herder in 1878 and walked and painted his way west. In the spring of 1898, he was commissioned to decorate the stage curtain for the M.W.A. lodge in exchange for room and board at the local hotel. The work impressed the charter members to such an extent that they further commissioned Hűpeden to continue his painting and adorn their walls with scenes depicting the M.W.A.'s initiation rites, fraternal activities, and shared ideals. In November of 1899 the work was finished. Hűpeden had literally covered every inch of wall space including the arched ceiling, window frames, wainscoting and curtains. The vivid imaginative scenes painted by Ernst Hüpeden recreate a remarkable vision of life, death, initiation rituals, and the aspirations of the Valton M.W.A camp members. Initiates into the M.W.A. were guaranteed both brotherhood and economic security for their families in the event of a member's death. the M.W.A.'s life insurance benefits to its members coincided with the beginnings of formalized insurance in America. Upon completing the murals, Hupeden left Valton on foot and continued his itinerant painter's career in western Wisconsin until his death. On December 8, 1911, the artist died and is buried in a pauper's grave near Richland Center, WI.

The arts have long played an important role in the educational traditions of Edgewood College. In October 2004, the Kohler Foundation gifted the Painted Forest to Edgewood College of Madison, Wisconsin. As stewards of this important folk art treasure, the College has pledged to maintain the site and foster its role in educating students, artists, researchers and the general public. The Edgewood College Art Studio and Study Center was constructed in Valton by the Kohler Foundation, Inc. The Study Center provides space for interdisciplinary workshops, lectures, seminars, retreats, performances and artist residencies. The College's advocacy for partnership and respect for the natural environment promises that its presence in the Valton community and the Upper Baraboo River country will be that of a "good neighbor" for years to come.