Sylvanus Wade House

The Sylvanus Wade House is a three-story wooden building with clapboard siding and classical Greek elements including symmetrical facade and columned entrance. The site contains nine additional historic structures, including the Wesley W. Jung Carriage Museum that holds a collection of horse-drawn vehicles.

Built between 1848 and 1851, the house originally served as a Half Way House providing lodging for travelers on the Plank Road between Fond du Lac and Sheboygan. Later it operated as a Methodist church and then a restaurant before the Kohler Foundation restored it to its Civil War-era appearance.

The Wisconsin Historical Society runs the house with staff dressed in 19th-century clothing who demonstrate daily activities and crafts from that era. Visitors witness authentic work techniques and the rhythms of life as people lived it during the 1800s.

The 240-acre museum complex offers a lot to explore and visitors should plan for enough time to see all buildings and collections. Most visitors find it helpful to start with the Carriage Museum and then move through the other structures.

The building once served as a vital stop for stagecoach travelers who spent long days on the road and needed a safe place to rest and eat. This role as a travel hub shaped how the building was designed and constructed, visible in its layout today.

Location: Wisconsin

Architectural style: Greek Revival architecture

GPS coordinates: 43.77917,-88.09250

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:01