Living history museum featuring restored immigrant farmsteads, historic village buildings, costumed interpreters, traditional crafts, and hands-on experiences that recreate life in nineteenth-century Wisconsin.
Summer (June 10 to August 30): Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00am to 4:00pm
Fall (September 5 to September 27): Saturday and Sunday, 10:00am to 4:00pm
Closed during the off-season except for select special events
Seniors (65+): $20
Teens (13–17): $24
Children (5–12): $16
Children under 5: Free
How to Get There
From Mukwonago (7 mi): Take WI-83 south from Mukwonago, connect to WI-67, and continue south through the Kettle Moraine region to the main entrance at W372 S9727 WI-67 in Eagle.
Overview
Old World Wisconsin is the largest outdoor living history museum in the state and preserves the stories of the immigrant communities that helped shape the Upper Midwest during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Spread across hundreds of acres in the scenic Kettle Moraine region, the site features dozens of relocated and restored historic buildings representing German, Norwegian, Polish, Danish, Finnish, and other immigrant traditions. Visitors can explore authentic farmsteads, village businesses, schools, churches, and homesteads while interacting with costumed interpreters who demonstrate traditional skills such as blacksmithing, farming, cooking, and woodworking. The immersive setting creates the feeling of stepping directly into the daily life of Wisconsin's early settlers.
More than a museum, the attraction functions as a working historical community where heritage livestock, heirloom gardens, and hands-on activities bring history to life. Guests can ride trams between exhibit areas, meet farm animals, observe seasonal agricultural work, and participate in family-oriented educational experiences throughout the year. The combination of preserved architecture, living demonstrations, and beautiful natural surroundings makes the site appealing to both history enthusiasts and casual visitors. By preserving the cultural traditions and everyday experiences of generations of immigrants, Old World Wisconsin provides one of the most comprehensive and engaging historical experiences in the Midwest.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles and official tourism pages for Old World Wisconsin, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0.
