Old World Wisconsin, Open-air museum in Eagle, Waukesha County, United States.
Old World Wisconsin is an open-air museum in Waukesha County, set across wooded hills and featuring over 60 historic buildings from the 1800s. The structures range from farmhouses and barns to domestic buildings and a village crossroads, all arranged to show how rural settlers lived in this part of the state.
The Wisconsin Historical Society opened this museum in 1976 after years of planning that began in 1966, with the land coming from Kettle Moraine State Forest. Many of the buildings were relocated from other parts of the state to bring together examples of how immigrant communities settled rural Wisconsin during the 1800s.
The site is divided into separate settlement areas, each dedicated to a different immigrant community, including German, Norwegian, Finnish, Polish, and Danish groups. Each area shows the building styles and craft traditions that these communities brought with them from their home countries.
The grounds are large and entirely outdoors, so comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing make a real difference for the visit. Allow several hours to move through the different settlement areas without feeling rushed.
One area of the site is dedicated to brewing, with demonstrations showing how beer was made using techniques that German and central European immigrants brought to Wisconsin. It shows just how central brewing was to everyday life in these communities, far beyond simply making a drink.
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