Wade House Historic Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wade House Historic Site |
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Old Wade House
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 Wade House Historic Site
Location in Wisconsin
Wade House Historic Site
Location in the United States
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| Location | Sheboygan, Wisconsin, United States |
| Area | 48 acres (19 ha) |
| Established | 1953 |
| Governing body | Wisconsin Historical Society |
The Wade House Historic Site, also known as Old Wade House, is a cool 240-acre (97 ha) outdoor museum in Greenbush, Wisconsin. It's a special place that shows what life was like in the mid-1800s. The Wisconsin Historical Society takes care of this historic site.
At Wade House, you can explore nine different buildings. Three of these buildings are so important that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are officially recognized as needing protection because of their history.
The main building is the Sylvanus Wade House, which was built way back in 1848–1849. When you visit in the summer, you'll see people dressed in old-fashioned clothes. They act like people from the past, showing you what daily life was like long ago!
Contents
Journey Through Time: The History of Wade House
The Wade House was carefully fixed up between 1950 and 1953. The Kohler Foundation helped make it look just like it did in the past. After the restoration, it became a state park for everyone to enjoy.
Wheels of History: The Carriage Museum
In 1968, the Wesley W. Jung Carriage Museum opened its doors. This museum is full of amazing vehicles from the past. You can see all kinds of carriages, sleighs, and wagons. Some were pulled by horses, and others were pulled by hand. There are even old fire wagons!
Sawmills and New Beginnings
The land where the Robinson-Herrling sawmill once stood was bought in 1960. The sawmill itself was rebuilt on its original spot between 1999 and 2001. It shows how people used to cut wood for building.
A brand new 30,000-square-foot (2,800 m2) visitor center opened in 2013. This modern building also houses the main carriage museum collection. It's where your adventure at Wade House often begins!
Exploring the Historic Buildings
Many buildings at Wade House are important. Three of them are even listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are very special and worth preserving.
Here are some of the interesting buildings you can see:
- Sylvanus Wade House: This is the main house, built in 1849. It's a great example of Greek Revival architecture. It was the home of Sylvanus Wade and his family.
- Charles Robinson House: Built in 1855, this house is also in the Greek Revival style. It was home to Sylvanus Wade's oldest daughter and her husband. It's sometimes called the Butternut House.
- Robinson Carriage House: This building was used to store carriages and other vehicles for the Robinson family.
- Butternut Cafe: Built in 1950, this building now serves as a cafe for visitors.
- Robinson-Herrling Sawmill Farmhouse: This timber-frame farmhouse was built in 1847. The sawmill itself was rebuilt nearby to show how wood was processed.
- Dockstader Blacksmith Shop: This shop, built in the 1970s, shows how blacksmiths worked. They used fire and tools to shape metal.
- Smokehouse: People used smokehouses to preserve meat long before refrigerators existed.
- Interpretation Building: This building used to be the visitor center. Now it's used for other activities that help tell the story of Wade House.
- Visitor Center: The newest building, opened in 2013, is where you'll find tickets, a gift shop, and information about the site.
- Wesley W. Jung Carriage Museum: Also opened in 2013, this museum displays over 70 horse-drawn and hand-drawn vehicles. You can see everything from fancy carriages to work wagons.
- Carriage Pavilion: This building used to be the carriage museum. After the new museum opened, it was repurposed for other events.
- Chicken Coop: A typical farm building where chickens were kept.
- Sheep Pen: Where sheep were housed on the farm.
- Stable: This is where horses would have been kept and cared for.
Images for kids
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Old Wade House
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Charles Robinson House
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Robinson Carriage House
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Butternut Cafe
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Robinson-Herrling Sawmill Farmhouse
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Dockstader Blacksmith Shop
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Smokehouse
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Interpretation Building
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New Visitor Center
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Wesley W. Jung Carriage Museum
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Carriage Pavilion
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Chicken Coop
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Sheep Pen
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Stable
