Save This For Later
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
If your family loves hands-on learning, wide-open spaces, and a little time-travel adventure, these outdoor historical parks are such fun spots to explore. Each one gives kids a peek into 19th-century life through real buildings, live demonstrations, and interactive experiences.
You’ll find old schoolhouses, barns, mills, locomotives, and even historic gardens — all brought to life by volunteers, costumed interpreters, or special events throughout the year.
👉 Looking for even more family adventures? Explore our Day Trips From Milwaukee guide for 100+ ideas.
Quick List of Outdoor Historical Parks Near Milwaukee
- Old World Wisconsin — Eagle
- New Berlin Historical Park — New Berlin (FREE)
- Old Falls Village Historical Park — Menomonee Falls (FREE)
- Pioneer Village — Saukville
- Richfield Historical Park — Richfield
- Trimborn Farm — Greendale
💡Looking for more places to explore? Don’t miss our full roundup of the Best Milwaukee Museums for Kids — a complete list of hands-on, family-friendly destinations around the city.
Best Outdoor Historical Parks for Families (2026)
1. Old World Wisconsin — Eagle
Best for: immersive, hands-on history
Cost: Paid admission
Open: Spring–Fall (seasonal hours)
Time Needed: 2–4 hours
Why Families Love It
Old World Wisconsin brings 19th-century rural life to life across 600 acres — the largest outdoor living history museum of its kind in the country. Dozens of original historic buildings were moved here and rebuilt piece by piece, including furnished farmhouses, a church, and a one-room schoolhouse.
Kids can try classic chores, churn butter, make crafts, walk on wooden stilts, watch shoemaking demonstrations, try iron-working, and meet horses, roosters, pigs, sheep, and more.
Highlights for Kids
- Hands-on activities (ice cream making, chores, stilt walking)
- Historic farmsteads with live animals
- Demonstrations on gardening, food preservation, and daily life
- Seasonal vintage baseball games
Know Before You Go
- Open Wednesday–Sunday in summer; weekends only spring/fall
- Tickets available onsite or online
- New brewhouse experience celebrates Wisconsin brewing heritage
2. New Berlin Historical Park — New Berlin (FREE!)
Best for: free, easy, anytime outdoor exploring
Cost: Free
Open: Grounds open year-round; buildings open only during events
Time Needed: 30–90 minutes
Why Families Love It
New Berlin Historical Park is a charming historic village is tucked inside the Prospect Hill Settlement District. It includes a Freewill Baptist church, carriage house, barn, red schoolhouse, gardens, an antique orchard, a gazebo, a log cabin, an old windmill, and several historic homes. Every building has posted historical information, making it easy to explore at your own pace.
Highlights for Kids
- Wander through historic buildings and gardens
- Check out the old schoolhouse, log cabin, and orchard
- Explore at your own pace — no schedule required
Know Before You Go
- Open House events include a July ice cream social, September Historic Day, and October Applefest
- Group tours available by appointment
3. Old Falls Village Historical Park & Museum — Menomonee Falls (FREE!)
Best for: big events + year-round outdoor exploring
Cost: Free grounds; paid special events
Open: Grounds open daily; buildings open during events
Time Needed: 1–2 hours
Why Families Love It
Set on 17 acres, Old Falls Village includes a log home, schoolhouse, barn, railroad depot, dairy, and tons of 19th-century artifacts. The star of the grounds is the 1858 Miller-Davidson House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Highlights for Kids
- Civil War, Revolutionary War & WWII reenactments
- Saturday beer garden for parents (May–October)
- Halloween Family Fun Nights
- Classic car show and seasonal events
Know Before You Go
- Buildings only open during Village Events
- Will soon house two restored original Menomonee Falls fire engines
4. Pioneer Village — Saukville
Best for: historic buildings + special fall events
Cost: Paid admission (kids under 5 free)
Open: Weekends, late May–early October
Time Needed: 1–2 hours
Why Families Love It
Pioneer Village features 17 authentically restored buildings from the 19th century — homes, barns, and even the original Cedarburg Railroad Depot. Families can stroll through furnished spaces and get a sense of pioneer life.
Highlights for Kids
- Furnished historic homes
- Restored railroad depot
- Seasonal events including Train Show & Autumn Farm Days
Know Before You Go
- Open Saturdays & Sundays, noon–5 p.m.
- Admission: $8 adults, $6 kids (under 5 free)
5. Richfield Historical Park — Richfield
Best for: history + nature + easy family hiking
Cost: Free grounds; small fee for tours
Open: Grounds open daily; buildings open during scheduled events
Time Needed: 1–2 hours
Why Families Love It
This 33-acre historical park sits next to the Richfield Nature Park and includes dozens of restored structures, from a mill and smokehouse to a granary, log cabin, sugar shack, and blacksmith shop. Trails wind through woods, past Coney Creek, and near picnic areas.
Highlights for Kids
- Messer/Mayer mill and homestead
- Wooded trails and creek
- Log cabin, barn, welcome center, and blacksmith shop
- Adventure Lab geocaching
Know Before You Go
- Tours offered on event days
- Don’t miss: Maple Syrup Family Day + Harvest Festival
- Tour fees: $5 adults, $3 kids 6–12, under 5 free
6. Trimborn Farm — Greendale
Best for: quick visits + beautiful historic grounds
Cost: Free grounds; small fees for events
Open: Grounds open daily; buildings by appointment
Time Needed: 45–90 minutes
Why Families Love It
Trimborn Farm is Milwaukee County’s only historic-themed park, with a Cream City brick farmhouse, a massive stone barn, worker bunkhouse, threshing barn, and 75-foot kiln. The property has served as everything from a lime production site to a dairy farm and riding stable.
Highligts for Kids
- Explore the barns and farmhouse grounds
- Outdoor concerts, drop-in programs, and workshops
- Seasonal crafts and community events
Know Before You Go
- Buildings open for scheduled programs only
- Biggest annual event: Harvest of Art & Crafts, weekend after Labor Day
More Adventures Around Milwaukee
- Wisconsin Children’s Museums Your Kids Will Love
- Free Milwaukee Museums
- Kid-Friendly Tours and Tastings in Milwaukee
- Free Admission Days at Milwaukee Museums
- Here’s What You’ll Find at the Dinosaur Discovery Museum
- Things to do With Kids at the Art Museum
Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.
