Hands-On History Workshop: Baking and Cooking

Event Details

Select Days | 10 AM–3 PM 

Nov 14 & Nov 21, 2026

November 14th: Experience a Cozy 19th-Century German Cooking Workshop

Step into a 19th-century kitchen and spend the day preparing a traditional German midday meal from start to finish. In this hands-on cooking workshop, you’ll work with each other to prepare a full seasonal supper using historical techniques and familiar ingredients—all while experiencing the nostalgia of rural 1800s Wisconsin cooking. You’ll discuss German foodways, seasonal cooking and preservation practices, and how many cherished traditions immigrated with Germans to the Midwest. When you’re finished, taste and take home some of your very own hard-earned supper.

Guests will make the following dishes: Zwiebelkichen (onion cake), Creamed Bratwursts with fresh rye bread and butter, a hot potato salad, and a seasonal fruit kuchen (cake). Guests will be provided with recipes used in the program to take home, as well as any food left over after tastings.

November 21st: Experience a Cozy 19th-Century Sausage Making Workshop

Using 19th-century methods and recipes, you’ll participate in every step of traditional sausage making — grinding, seasoning, stuffing, and cooking over a historic-style stove. Learn how early settlers preserved meat through the long winters and discover the flavors and techniques passed down through generations of Wisconsin families. Enjoy ample taste testing throughout the day—and be sure to take home some of the finished products and recipes.

Guests will make the following sausages: Bratwurst, Breakfast Sausage and Swedish Potato Sausage. Guests will be provided with recipes used in the program to take home as well as some sausages made during the program.

What You’ll Experience   

• A baking and cooking course from a talented Old World Wisconsin ambassador—perfect for beginners and pros alike
• The opportunity to cook authentic 1800s recipes using utensils and methods of the time
• A chance to sample your own wonderful cooking, plus take-home foods and copies of recipes used

Cost

$150/person 

Must be 18+ to participate. 

Advanced registration is required.

Society members receive a 10% discount, please verify your membership where prompted to receive discount at check out.

About the Location

Old World Wisconsin includes 60 authentically restored historic homes, farms, stores and workshops. Each region features a distinct set of stories that invite you to experience the hopes and dreams of those who came before us. From the 1840s to the 1940s, you’ll find a true panorama of early Wisconsin history, covering more than 70 years and many cultures, including African American, Danish, Finnish, Hessian, Irish, Norwegian, Polish, Pomeranian and Yankee.. 

Old World Wisconsin first opened in 1976. Researchers traveled throughout Wisconsin in search of historic buildings crafted by the first generation of Wisconsin immigrants and migrants. From Lake Superior to the Illinois border, and from the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan, historians documented countless historic farmhouses, outbuildings and small-town structures. Once research was complete, the meticulous construction of Old World Wisconsin began. Piece by piece, workers carefully dismantled historic structures from around the state and reconstructed them in their new home.  

Old World Wisconsin 
W372 S9727 Hwy 67
Eagle, WI 53119 

Know Before You Go & Accessibility 

• This workshop is for participants 18 years old and up. 
• The instructor will meet participants at the Welcome Center. 
• Participants should bring their own lunch.
• Participants are encouraged to bring a water bottle. Historic buildings at Old World Wisconsin do not have modern heating/cooling systems and working with wood stoves can be very hot during the summer. 
• Old World Wisconsin grounds remain open rain or shine. Programs are subject to change based on availability and weather conditions. 
• Old World Wisconsin is located within the Kettle Moraine State Forest. The site features gravel roads, rough and hilly terrain, and encompasses over 400 acres of publicly accessible woodlands. Our staff recommends dressing in layers and choosing sturdy footwear. 
• Onsite vehicle parking is available for FREE at Old World Wisconsin. The parking lot can accommodate large vehicles, RVs, and buses. 
• Modern restrooms, changing rooms, and water fountains are available on site. 
• No pets are allowed.  
• Because of the historic nature of the buildings, not all areas are ADA accessible. Guests using wheelchairs and electric scooters are eligible for complimentary admission. Guests with additional mobility needs are encouraged to contact the site directly at 262-594-6301 or [email protected]. 

Have Questions?

For more information, please contact the box office at 608-264-4848 or [email protected].