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 officially 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 Wisconsin 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 $12 million investment funded by 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 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.
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