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Travel Through Time and the Stories of America’s Heartland
Spring is the perfect time to explore Old World Wisconsin! From native prairies and wildflowers to farm fields and forest trails, our landscape is coming alive. There are sheep to be sheared, gardens to be planted, animals to be fed and scenic woodland trails that invite discovery.
Ready for a one-of-a-kind, fun-filled adventure? Make your spring historic at Old World Wisconsin!
Wittnebel’s Tavern Grand Opening
Sat May 17 – Sun May 18 | 10 AM – 4 PM
Raise your glass and relive the past! Be among the first to experience our newest addition, a genuine throwback to Wisconsin tavern history! Don’t miss this celebration of our rich taphouse heritage.
Spring Recipes
Bubbling pots and earthy aromas—watch as we create root cellar recipes at our Finnish and Hessian farms! Watch flames roar from the cast iron cook stove and learn historic cooking tips for creating your very own homemade Old World meals.
Gardening
As trees bloom, our gardens teem with fresh rhubarb, asparagus and green onions. Come see us prep ingredients for sumptuous springtime pies, jams, bread and other delicious treats.
Wool Processing
Our sheep love to be shorn! Old World takes you through the entire transformative wool process—from picking to carding to washing to spinning.
Hands-On Weaving
Weave to your heart’s content at our 1860s Pomeranian farmhouse! Learn about the art of traditional quilting, watch our staff operate an Old World loom and try your hand at our hand loom.
Excited to spring into a historic season at Old World?
Grab your tickets now and reserve your spot!
About Us
Set against the backdrop of the Kettle Moraine State Forest and 600 acres of picturesque woodlands, prairie, and wetlands, Old World Wisconsin is a one-of-a kind-place where the modern world fades away to reveal over a century of history. The site includes 60 authentically restored historic homes, farms, stores, and workshops.
Along your journey from the 1840s to the 1910s, costumed ambassadors will invite you to get hands on with history. You’ll meet furry friends on the farms, enjoy an old-fashioned soda water in the general store, see sparks fly in the blacksmith shop, see how beer is made, and so much more!
How you explore is up to you – our historic areas are located within convenient walking distance of each other, or you can choose to hop on our complimentary tram.
Interactive Experiences
Craft a leather keychain*
Take home a hand crafted metal hook*
Enjoy an old-fashioned soda water*
Shop in the general store*
Help bake bread
Try on period clothing
Try on wooden shoes
Ride high-wheel tricycles
Sponsored by Milwaukee Tool Mukwonago Operations
Lend a hand in the blacksmith shop
Wash clothes on a wash board
Learn how to weave
Meet our oxen
Stroll down a wooded path
Prepare food in the kitchens
Take in a schoolhouse lesson
Set the dining room table
Play the pump organ
Wander the gardens
Pump water from the well
Sample beer made in the Brewhouse
Note: Some experiences are seasonal or available at select times.
* Requires the purchase of time travel tokens
Plan(t) Your Visit
Dig into heirloom gardens, help out at our farmsteads, try your hand at blacksmithing, learn about artisanal brewing and more!
Things To Explore
CROSSROADS VILLAGE
The heat and sparks of a white-hot forge, the ornate trinkets of an 1800s-era general store, and troves of authentic Victorian history to explore—all of it comes alive at the Crossroads Village, a lifelike recreation of small-town America during a tumultuous era of immigration, ingenuity and industry. Browse shop shelves and select your very own souvenir, learn ironworking secrets from artisan blacksmiths, walk through the pews and pulpits of a 19th-century chapel, and tour homes filled with unique historic artifacts.
BEER & BREWING
Why settle for a storebought cold one when you can experience history? Join us at Wittnebel’s Tavern to have a pint, or follow every step of the artisan brewing process in the Brewhouse, or relax in a German style beirgarten surrounded by beautiful plants (some of which can be used to make beer!). Celebrate good cheer and ample beer alongside friends and fellow brewers alike.
LIFE ON THE FARMS
Rural immigrants were nothing if not resourceful. From sowing to plowing, learn firsthand how subsistence farmers honed centuries of agrarian trades and techniques to adapt and meet the challenging conditions of their time. Dig into the history of one of the first African American farming communities in Wisconsin, visit the homesteads of Pomeranian, Polish and Hessian immigrants, discover the tools and equipment used in 1800s crop cultivation and more.
SCANDINAVIAN HOMESTEADS
In centuries past, homes were built by the same hands that inhabited them. From log cabins to wood-burning stoves and rough-cut windows, explore the houses of Finnish, Danish and Norwegian immigrants who built and lived on the lands that now make up Wisconsin. Finish your education in early homestead design with a lesson on Old World living at the quaint yet stately Raspberry School.
HERITAGE ANIMAL BREEDS
Almost every cow, chicken, sheep, pig and horse you meet during your visit to Old World Wisconsin is a Heritage Breed—in other words, a traditional, historic animal from a bygone era before industrial agriculture became standard practice. More than simply being rare or unique, heritage breeds hold history in their genes: each one is a reminder of local farming techniques and cultural traditions no longer implemented today. Oh… and did we mention they’re endlessly cute?
WAGON WORKS
The Wagon Shop has officially transformed: welcome to the ALL-NEW Wagon Works at Old World Wisconsin! Get involved in this hands-on crafting experience as you explore, create and tinker with 1800s-era wagon materials in a rugged, sawdust-laden studio. Tool around with 19th-century building materials, look up carriage schematics and put your newfound knowledge to the test as you tackle the ultimate task: designing your OWN wagon.
WOODED TRAILS
Surrounding Old World Wisconsin are the misted foliage and thriving plant life of the Kettle Moraine Forest, a wood that is at its best during the heart of a cool and vibrant spring. Explore the paths and trails of the forest at your own pace as you discover and revel in the beauty of budding trees, flowering plants, colorful birds, enchanting wildlife, stunning vistas and much, much more.
As part of a 5 year project, Standard Process, Inc. will be assisting in restoring some trails to get them back on the map and available to guests!
CATCH WHEEL FEVER
Discover how sports, technological innovations, and shared social spaces were key in creating community identity and connecting lives near and far. Hop on an early high-wheel bicycle and see how communities came together in the club hall.
Old World Wisconsin is Travel Green certified!
Old World Wisconsin Gallery
Learn with the Wisconsin Historical Society
Field Trips
Summer Camps
“We are already planning on returning later in the year to see what changes with the seasons.”
“What a wonderful experience for the entire family. My kids found lots of fun experiences.”
Zack W.
Wisconsin Historical Society Sites
Old World Wisconsin is one of the 12 historic sites and museums owned and operated by the Wisconsin Historical Society. Explore all of these sites below.
Black Point Estate & Gardens
Circus World
First Capitol
H.H. Bennett Studio & Museum
Madeline Island Museum
Old World Wisconsin
Pendarvis
Reed School
Stonefield
Villa Louis
Wade House
Wisconsin History Center