Old World Wisconsin: Launches 50th season, unveils new welcome center and expanded programs and events making America’s 250th Anniversary

EAGLE, Wis. – Old World Wisconsin is entering an exciting new chapter as it prepares to open its 50th season on May 2. With the final phase of its five-year expansion project now complete, the 600-acre living history attraction will debut a 10,000-square-foot welcome center, expand its food and beverage offerings, unveil a new logo and introduce special programs and tours to celebrate this milestone anniversary and America 250.

“This is a significant year in Old World Wisconsin’s history,” said Doug Raney, director of the historic site. “As both the nation and our living history attraction celebrate major anniversaries – a fitting connection, since Old World Wisconsin began as the state’s bicentennial project – we’re completing a major initiative that brings history to life in new and innovative ways. With this expansion, we’ve created a stronger point of entry and a welcoming social hub that weaves food and beverage experiences into Wisconsin’s story. Our anniversary programming will make this an especially memorable year.”

The spring season opens with favorite activities – from watching sheep get their first haircut to hiking scenic trails in search of wildflowers and migrating birds. Visitors can choose from more than 20 daily interpretive programs, help with spring planting, meet friendly farm animals, or enjoy a Friday night fish fry in the outdoor Biergarten overlooking the Kettle Moraine.

In this special anniversary year, new offerings will provide a deeper look at Old World Wisconsin while also exploring historic events that shaped the American story. As part of the broader America 250 commemoration, Old World Wisconsin’s programming will focus on the nation’s centennial era, offering a unique perspective on this milestone.

America 250 Programs

Experience Decoration Day – the precursor to Memorial Day – at United Brethren Church on May 30 and 31. Learn how the tradition of decorating the grave sites of Civil War soldiers was practiced in African American communities like Pleasant Ridge in Wisconsin’s Grant County. Take part in a morning or afternoon ceremony and listen to the Mukwonago Community Choir perform at 1 p.m. in the Clausing Barn on both days.

Dig deep into Old World Wisconsin’s roots with Step into History: Behind-the-Scenes tour. Explore upper floors, locked rooms and hidden basements, learning new insights into the site’s history and inner workings. This first-time-ever tour uncovers fascinating facts and practices brought here from the early immigrant communities that made Wisconsin their home. The tours, held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., take place on various Fridays, June 12 and 26, July 10 and 24 and Aug. 7 and 21. The cost is $125 per person, which includes lunch at Clausing Café.

Join a grand Independence Day Weekend Celebration as Old World Wisconsin marks its 50th Birthday and America’s 250th birthday. From July 3 to 5, a three-day star-spangled celebration will take place beginning with a July 3rd ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the new Welcome Center. Former Old World Wisconsin employees who opened the living history attraction in 1976, along with families whose buildings reside at Old World Wisconsin, will be attending the event.

Cap off the celebration with an Independence Day weekend extravaganza on July 4 and 5 – two days filled with old-fashioned fun. Dress in red, white and blue and join a lively daily parade with decorated wagons and historic flags. Enjoy a brass band on the green and listen to a daily reading of the Declaration of Independence. Watch a historic Base Ball game between competing teams, join a tug-of-war contest, take part in a pie-eating contest, churn butter and so much more. Don’t miss a special exhibition of the “Making of Old World Wisconsin,” opening on July 3 at the Lueskow House.

A new Step into History: Family Experience will feature a two-hour guided tour with one of Old World’s expert interpreters. Families will visit a one-room schoolhouse, log cabin, general store and other historic locations. The rest of the day is free to explore on your own. The cost of this July 12 and Aug. 2 experience is $40 per person for adults and teens, $35 for seniors (65+) and children ages 5-12; children under five are free.

Ever wondered what it was like to be a soldier during the American Civil War? On July 18 and 19, For Liberty & Union: A Civil War Living History Experience bringsthe 26th Wisconsin regiment – made up of German immigrants – to life. Guests participate in marching drills, learn about period weaponry and explore the soldiers’ experiences firsthand. This program is presented in partnership with the Badger Light Infantry.

New Food and Drink Experiences

With the completion of the new arrival experience, visitors can enjoy more dining options near the entrance of Old World Wisconsin. The newly renovated Clausing Café, housed in the historic octagonal-shaped Clausing Barn, serves favorite homemade seasonal specialties along with a classic Fish Fry and Biergarten Night, which will be availableon Fridays, May 1-Sept. 25. Fish fry will be available for purchase from 4 to 8 p.m. in May and September, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. during general admission in June, July and August. No ticket for entry is required to purchase fish fry.

After enjoying the Brewhouse Experience, head to the convivial Wittnebel’s Tavern for a Brandy Old-Fashioned, or enjoy a brew at the outdoor, roof-covered Biergarten. New in 2026 is the Thirsty Thursday Beer Tour, Old World Wisconsin’s version of a brewery tour, hosted by historic brewer Rob Novak, on June 25, July 30 and Aug. 27, from 10 a.m. to noon.

Welcome Center

The new welcome center, a $6 million, 10,000 square-foot project, will be the entry and exit point for all visitors and feature two buildings connected by an open-air plaza. The new facility will include upgraded restrooms, water bottle fillers, site information, areas for ticketing and a museum store. It will be a modern building with tram transportation so guests can more easily visit the expansive site. The welcome center, coupled with beer and brewing experience, was a $12 million investment funded by a combination of sources, including the state of Wisconsin, a $2.75 million federal economic development grant (EDA) and private donations. Located at the entrance of Old World Wisconsin, the area will serve as a social hub for guests offering immersive historical experiences and more food and beverage offerings.

Old World Wisconsin History

Old World Wisconsin, one of the country’s largest living history attractions, was created to celebrate America’s Bicentennial. The massive project was conceived in the 1960s by two passionate preservationists, Hans Kuether and architect Richard Perrin. Perrin had written a book titled Historic Wisconsin Architecture that listed 76 structures in Wisconsin that he felt were worthy of preservation. The project, years in the making, involved moving 60 authentic buildings, from farmsteads to community buildings, from around the state to the wooded 600-acre park. Today, Old Wisconsin welcomes more than 60,000 school children and guests each year.

Check out the calendar below for upcoming Old World Wisconsin events:

• Mom’s Get in Free, Mother’s Day, May 10, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Treat Mom to a day filled with historic discoveries from shopping in the General Store to hiking among the spring blooms. 
• Goat Yoga, May 30 and Aug. 22, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. ($30) Bring a mat and enjoy yoga among playful goats at this popular outing.
• Midsummer Festival, June 20 and 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participate in a Scandinavian-inspired festival celebrating the summer solstice. Traditionally held in Scandinavian countries, this event features flower crown making, dancing around the Maypole and special food and beverages for purchase.
• Kids Get In Free Wednesdays, June 10-Aug. 26, 10 to 4 p.m. Kids, ages 5-12, get in free every Wednesday throughout the summer season.
• Dad’s Get in Free, Father’s Day, June 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Take Dad on a historic retreat. Visit the farmstead, ride a historic bicycle and learn how beer was brewed in the olden days at the Brewhouse.

• Hands-on History Workshops (summer)
  Learn historic skills practiced by early immigrants. Cook and bake over an open fire, learn to shape and join metal, and practice carding, dying and spinning wool. These half- and full-day workshops, suitable for ages 13+, are Ideal for those who wish to learn old-world skills.
  • Spinning Wool: June 11, July 2, 16 and 30, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ($200)
  • Blacksmithing: June 17 and 24, July 8, 15, 22 and 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ($250)
  • Baking and Cooking: June 17 and 24, July 8, 15, 22 and 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ($150)
• Hands on History Ales & Lagers Workshop, July 16, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ($100) Join this interactive workshop and learn firsthand how to brew an 1860s-inspired beer using fresh ingredients on old-world equipment. Must be 21+ to participate.

Old World Wisconsin’s spring season occurs May 2 through June 7, with hours of admission from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., every Saturday and Sunday. The summer season starts on June 10 through Aug. 30, with admission from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each week from Wednesday through Sunday. Spring and summer admission rates are $24 for adults and teens, $20 for seniors (65+), $16 (children five to 12) and free for children under five. Wisconsin Historical Society members receive free general admission to all sites, including Old World Wisconsin, and 10% off ticketed events and store merchandise. Parking is included in admission.

To book tickets, visit oldworldwisconsin.org or call 262-594-6301. The address is W372 S9727 Hwy 67, Eagle, Wisconsin.

Construction note: Highway 67 around Old World Wisconsin will be undergoing roadwork in spring and summer 2026. We will remain open during our regular operating hours. To visit, you will need to drive through the construction zones – don’t take the detour! Please plan and give yourself extra time to arrive.

About Old World Wisconsin

Old World Wisconsin, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026, is one of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s 12 historic sites. Rated as one of the top attractions to take kids in the Milwaukee area, including being named “Best of the Burbs” in Milwaukee Magazine, Old World Wisconsin is a 600-acre regional history attraction that features interactive environments and immersive stories of 19^th and early 20^th century Midwestern immigrant farm and rural life. The attraction offers guests family-friendly, hands-on activities, such as visiting Crossroads Village and eight working farmsteads, exploring heirloom gardens, learning about beer brewing traditions, meeting heritage animal breeds and trying historic crafts and skills. Old World Wisconsin is located on Highway 67 just south of Eagle, Wisconsin, within daytrip distance of Milwaukee, Chicago and Madison. For more information and a list of upcoming events, visit OldWorldWisconsin.org or call (262) 594-6301. Wisconsin Historical Society members receive free general admission to this site during regular operating hours.

About Wisconsin Historical Society

The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. For more information, visit WisconsinHistory.org.