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Serving Family Fun and Traditions Daily
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.
Experience Fall on the Farms at Old World Wisconsin
A chill is in the air, the leaves are falling, and harvest is in full swing. This can only mean one thing: fall has arrived at Old World Wisconsin! Lace up your boots, put on your best flannel, and join us this fall to crunch your way through leafy woodland trails, sip brews at Wittnebel’s Tavern, see traditional farming and harvest methods, learn about historic pickling and preservation, meet our sheep and card wool, and so much more. Experience the beauty of autumn in the Kettle Moraine during your visit to Old World Wisconsin.
Fermenting, Pickling, Preserving
Before refrigeration and modern preservation techniques, immigrants relied on other ways of storing food for the winter. Learn about pickling & fermentation, watch jam & jelly processing, and smell meats being smoked.
Hike Through the Kettle Moraine
With its warm days and crisp evenings, September is the perfect time to experience autumn outdoors. Take in the beauty of the changing leaves and landscape with a walk on one of our many hiking trails.
Beer & Brewing Celebrations
Clink steins and fight off fall chills with a pint at Wittnebel’s Tavern, a charming 1930s-style bar with an adjoining Biergarten. Learn about historic brewing techniques and pick up special brewhouse recipes from our expert guides!
Cornucopia Harvest
Golden fields and falling leaves are tell-tale signs that harvest is right around the corner. Celebrate the change in seasons by learning about traditional farming and harvest techniques in the 1800s and early 1900s.
Relax and unwind at Old World this fall!
Grab your tickets now and reserve your spot!
Hands-On History Workshops
Step back in time and get hands-on with history at Old World Wisconsin’s immersive workshop series. From blacksmithing and beer brewing to wool spinning and historic cooking, you’ll learn traditional skills the old-fashioned way!
Enjoy breezy afternoons this fall at Old World Wisconsin.
Plan Your Visit Today
Hike trails, sip craft brews, tend gardens, make harvest-time keepsakes, watch leaves change 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 biergarten 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