Old World Wisconsin
Old World Wisconsin is an open-air museum located near Eagle, Wisconsin. Opened in 1976, the museum is owned and operated by the Wisconsin Historical Society. It portrays housing and the daily life of immigrants in 19th century Wisconsin. The largest outdoor museum of rural life in the United States, it encompasses nearly 600 acres (2.4 km²) of rolling wooded hills and contains over 60 historic structures. These range from ethnic farmsteads with furnished houses and rural outbuildings to a crossroads village. A restaurant and conference space are located in the octagonal Clausing Barn, along with a gift shop. Trams run between the Scandinavian and German, African American, and Crossroads villages.
Farmsteads and settlements that represent various ethnic groups include:
- African American: Pleasant Ridge Cemetery Chapel, Shepard Family Cemetery, United Brethren Church, Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
- Danish: Pedersen Farm
- Finnish: Rankinen Farm, Ketola Farm
- German: Koepsell Farm, Schottler Farm, Schulz Farm
- Norwegian: Fossebrekke Farm, Kvaale Farm, Raspberry School
- Polish: Kruza House
- Yankee: Harmony Town Hall, Four Mile Inn, Sisel Shoe Shop, Benson House, Grotelueschen Blacksmith Shop, Peterson Wagon Shop, Thomas General Store, Mary Hafford House, St. Peter's Church.
- "Yankee Village" also contains the non-Yankee buildings showing the integration of other European settlers to Wisconsin in the 19th century:
- Sisel shoe shop (Czech)
- Grotelueschen Blacksmith Shop (German)
- Peterson Wagon Shop (Scandinavian)
The Koepsell House and Christian Turck House (as known as Schottler Farm) are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Tornado damage
On the evening of June 21, 2010, the museum was hit by a tornado that leveled acres of trees on the grounds.[1] The "Old World 4th of July" event was canceled because of the clean-up efforts.
References
- ↑ Tom Held, Mike Johnson and Karen Herzog. "Homeowners assess tornado damage after harrowing night in Eagle", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 22, 2010. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Old World Wisconsin. |