For Immediate Release                                                                        

Contact: Rebecca Werner

rebecca.werner@wisconsinhistory.org

Tel: 608-261-2468

January 15, 2026

Old World Wisconsin to Open New Welcome Center to Celebrate 50th Birthday on July 4, 2026

New welcome center completes three-phase expansion that includes robust brewing experience

at 600-acre living history attraction

EAGLE, Wis. – It's no coincidence that Old World Wisconsin, a Wisconsin Historical Society site, will celebrate its 50th anniversary on July 4, 2026—the same day that America will celebrate its 250th birthday. The 600-acre living history attraction was Wisconsin's designated bicentennial project, and to mark the nation's 250th year, the historic site will open a new 10,000-square-foot, $6 million welcome center on July 4, 2026.

The new addition completes a three-part expansion project—joining the Brewhouse, restored 1930s historic tavern and outdoor Biergarten—to create a more engaging arrival experience at the living history attraction. Together, they represent the Wisconsin Historical Society's deep commitment to the site's evolution and highlight the state's rich beer and brewing heritage, an industry strongly tied to Wisconsin in our nation's history.

“The vision for the Old World Wisconsin expansion began more than nine years ago with the intention of greatly enhancing the guest arrival experience,” said Angela Titus, Wisconsin Historical Society's assistant deputy director and chief program officer. “The timing for completing the project could not be any better since both Old World and the nation mark important birthdays in 2026. The welcome center will be a gateway into the site with its many fascinating stories and experiences that allow guests to truly immerse themselves in Wisconsin history.

The welcome center 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 new museum store. It will be a modern building with a tram center so guests can more easily visit the expansive site.

“We look forward to taking guests on a journey from the 19th to 20th century,” said Titus. “The Brewhouse highlights 19th-century brewing with hands-on experiences, while the restored 1906 Wittnebel's Tavern offers an authentic 1930s post-prohibition atmosphere and a blond lager inspired by that era. Nearby, the new outdoor Biergarten overlooking the Kettle Moraine Forest honors Wisconsin's German brewing heritage and provides a relaxing space to gather.”

To further enhance the visitor experience, the octagonal Clausing Barn, which recently received a kitchen upgrade, will now feature expanded food and beverage offerings. 

The welcome center, coupled with the beer and brewing experience, was a $10 million investment funded by private donations, state funds and a $2.75 million federal economic development grant (EDA). 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 is one of the country's largest living history attractions and 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.

For further information on the new arrivals project, go to oldworldwisconsin.org/newarrivalscampaign.

About Old World Wisconsin

Old World Wisconsin is one of the Wisconsin Historical Society's 12 historic sites and museums. Rated as one of the top attractions to take kids in the Milwaukee area, Old World Wisconsin is a 600-acre regional history attraction that features interactive environments and immersive stories of 19th-and early 20th-century Midwestern immigrant farm and rural life. The museum offers guests family-friendly, hands-on activities such as visiting a crossroads village and eight working farmsteads, exploring heirloom gardens, experience beer brewing traditions, meet heritage animal breeds and try historic crafts and skills. Nature trails, found throughout the park, allow guests to discover the area's flora, fauna and wildlife. Old World Wisconsin is located on Highway 67 just south of Eagle, Wisconsin, within daytrip distance of Milwaukee, Chicago and Madison. The living history attraction is open on spring weekends, Wednesday through Sunday during the summer, and select weekends in October and December for holiday-themed events. 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.

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