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Before the foundation of the distillery there was a seigniorial wine distillery mostly hired by the Jews. In 1827 the wine distillery was hired and later bought by Šimon Mahler. His son, Bernard Mahler, was born in his earlier place of residence, Lipnice nad Sázavou. In 1857 he married Marie Hermannová who came from Ledeè. Together they bought an inn.

On 7 July, 1860 their second son Gustav Mahler was born in an uncomfortable one-floor house on the edge of the village where his father ran a shop and an inn. The little house burnt to ashes before the Nazi occupation and a new house was built in its location on the roadside. The parents sold the house and moved to Jihlava in 1865. Gustav studied at the local grammar school where he passed his school leaving examinations. As a child, he learnt to play the violin, piano and accordion and he very much loved the music of folk instruments. The Mahlers were a purely Czech family. His grandfather Simon lived in Kalištì for about 40 years. He used to visit Jihlava, Havlíèkùv Brod, Ledeè, Vlašim and the surroundings of Èáslav until the death of both of his parents in 1889. Throughout his life he remained an admirer and promoter of Czech music. After graduating from the University of Vienna and the conservatoire, Gustav Mahler worked as a conductor and later as the director of opera in Olomouc, Prague, Leipzig, Budapest, Vienna and New York. He made several major symphonies. The Seventh Symphony was played in Prague in 1908 for the first time. The Ninth Symphony called “Píseò o zemi” (The Song of the Earth) was not found until after his death. He introduced Smetana´s operas to Vienna. He also acted at New York Opera in America, from where he returned fatally ill in the spring 1911. He died on 18 May, 1911 in Vienna. People from all over the world come to Kalištì to visit Gustav Mahler´s native house.

During an accidental visit of the representatives of Musica noster amor foundation an idea arose to reconstruct the house and make it accessible for music lovers. Therefore the local authorities purchased it from its owners and the foundation under the leadership of Václav Hudeèek, an outstanding violinist, undertook to carry out the reconstruction. The project proceeds under the patronage of Gabriela Beòaèková, the world famous soprano. A rose park was founded in front of the former school to commemorate the personalities who passed on the legacy of Gustav Mahler. Presently, there are roses planted in memory of Rafael Kubelík, Zubin Mehta as well as two roses from Great Britain from the Company of Antonín Dvoøák and Graham Melville Mason etc.

On Sunday, 19 June, 1960 a celebration was held by the Association of Czech Composers and the House of Adult Education in Humpolec to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the birth of Gustav Mahler, the renowned conductor and composer. Many significant personalities from the sphere of culture and politics accepted the invitation, such as the composer Václav Dobiáš, as well as Mr. De la Grange from Mahler Society, France, a representative of Mahler Society, Italy and Professor Rubín of Vienna with his spouse. In the presence of the deputies of the local national committee a memorial plaque made by the Czech sculptor and medal maker Milan Knobloch was unveiled on Mahler´s native house.

To commemorate the 120^th birth anniversary, guests from Austria, France and Japan arrived. Five years later a 15 days´ trip in Gustav Mahler´s footsteps was organized.

On 7 July, 1990 a celebration was organized commemorating the 130^th birthday anniversary of Gustav Mahler. A display board presenting the life and work of Gustav Mahler was set up. On the celebration day a mass and a commemoration were held at the memorial plaque. In the afternoon a cultural programme took place and the spectators could enjoy the performances of Marietta dance group and Lesanka brass band. Around 800 visitors took part in the programmes.

On 1 June, 1996 the first celebration dedicated to Gustav Mahler was held in the Church of St. John the Baptist. After official speeches, the world famous virtuoso Václav Hudeèek played the violin and several compositions by Gustav Mahler were played by the Prague Chamber Philharmony with soloist mezzosoprano Dagmar Pecková. The concert was conducted by Jiøí Bìlohlávek. After the concert the celebration continued near the school, where two roses were planted in memory of Mahler conductors Zdenìk Košler and Václav Neumann. Among other present celebrities was also the Minister of Culture Pavel Tigrid.

On 24 May, 1997 the second celebration of the native of Kalištì took place. At 2 p.m. there was a performance on an improvized stage moderated by Marta Skarlandtová followed by a benefit concert in the church by Prague Symphonic Orchestra. All the programme was recorded by the Czech Television. Former minister Jiøí Diensbier, Èestmír Císaø, Prof. Brožek, painter Vladimír Komárek and actress Eva Hudeèková were present amongst others. On this occasion a Mahlers family tree was issued comprising more than 500 family members. In it, there is a range of gifted individuals, either musicians or artists and other world famous people. Mahler´s daughter Anna Justina (1904-1988) was a renowned sculptor. The granddaughter Marina (1943) is also a talented artist and she has visited Kalištì many times. Zdenìk Mahler (1928) is also well-known. He is a writer and a screenwriter focusing mainly on music.

On 19 September, 1998 the reconstruction of Gustav Mahler´s native house was celebrated. Musica noster amor foundation along with firm OPEL are the most significant sponsors. Among prominent guests were many celebrities, such as Marina, Gustav Mahler´s granddaughter, Thomas Hapson with his wife and Gabriela Beòaèková.

On 11 December, 1999 there was a Christmas concert in Gustav Mahler´s concert hall in Kalištì. Jazz, swing and classic Christmas music were played by the Czech Swingharmony under Václav Hamáèek. A Japanese music theoretist, professor at Tokyo University, a publicist and producer Funayama Takashi visited Kalištì. He is working on his first book about Gustav Mahler.

The museum in Humpolec dedicated a permanent exposition to the life and work of Gustav Mahler inaugurated by people´s artist Václav Neumann in 1986. It was the very first exposition of its kind in the world. It is dominated by a bust of Gustav Mahler by sculptor Milan Knobloch.

On 10 June, 1994 another exposition dedicated to the native of Kalištì was opened in the Museum of Vysoèina region in Jihlava.

In 1999 the municipal council of Humpolec awarded a commemorative medal of Dr. Aleš Hrdlièka to Gustav Mahler - In memoriam.

Permanent expositions dedicated to Gustav Mahler´s life and work are also opened abroad; for example Baron Prof. Henry- Louis de la Grange is the owner of Bibliothéque Musicale Gustav Mahler in Paris and is the author of the most extensive works about Gustav Mahler. Donald Mitchell is a Mahler tradition supporter in Britain.

Many relatives of Gustav Mahler are buried in the Jewish cemetery over Humpolec. The tombstone situated near the entrance with a cryptogram belongs to the Mahler family. The family of Henry Mahler from California visited Mahler´s native region. Mrs. Sheila Mahler has been working on the family tree for years. During a tour of the cemetery she pointed out another Mahler tombstone. It was the grave of Marie Mahlerová (1801-1883), Gustav Mahler´s grandmother.