Explore

Travel Through Time and the Stories of America’s Heartland

Home / Explore

in a wooden building, sunlight shines through a window onto a table with food

Summer Recipes
As summer heats up, flames dance beneath our cast iron cook stove! Discover all-new seasonal recipes bursting with garden-fresh ingredients and master the secrets of authentic Old World summer cooking.

Woman in a blue dress standing in the sunshine next to a building, pulling a rope off the wall

Historic Trades
Sun-kissed days and historic trades go hand in hand! Strike while the iron’s hot at our blacksmith shop, see threshing techniques in action, dig into thriving gardens and dive hands-first into living history.

Overhead view of a traditional wooden brewing vat filled with foamy liquid and crushed grains. Two metal buckets sit nearby, one collecting dark liquid from a spout, and the other partially filled with a golden liquid. A person wearing black boots stands to the side on a red brick floor.

Beer & Brewing
Step out of the summer heat at Wittnebel’s Tavern—a charming 1930s-style bar with an adjoining Biergarten where cool brews and warm hospitality meet. Then, unlock Old World brewhouse recipes from our guides.

A young girl looking at a watermelon with a woman dressed in period clothing, with another woman in the background

Gardens in Bloom
Summer explodes in a wash of color as our gardens reach peak splendor! Wander through vibrant blooms and lush plantings set against the stunning canvas of the Kettle Moraine Forest.

Make your summer historic at
Old World Wisconsin!

Grab your tickets now and reserve your spot!

BOOK TICKETS

About Us

A young girl riding a bike, smiling, with a woman following behind her in the background

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

BOOK TICKETS

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

Someone dressed in period time clothing weaving on a loom

Learn how to weave

Meet our oxen

Stroll down a wooded path

Prepare food in the kitchens

A teacher teaching a school house lesson

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

Things To Explore

VISITOR MAP

Kids exclaim over a hot poker in the blacksmithing workshop

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 19^th-century chapel, and tour homes filled with unique historic artifacts.

Rob Novak checking ingredients at OWW brewhouse test photoshoot.

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.

TAP INTO HISTORY

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?

ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS

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 19^th-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.

NEW MAKERS SPACE

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 Gallery

a woman in clothes from the time stands the the side of a store counter that is decorated to match the time period of the woman — General Store

a man in clothes from the time drives a horse drawn plow in a field — General Store

Learn with the Wisconsin Historical Society

a man, dressed in clothes from the time, talking and showing something to a group of kids

Field Trips

EXPLORE PROGRAMS

Summer Camps

EXPLORE DAY CAMPS

Wisconsin Historical Society Sites

BECOME A MEMBER

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.