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1. Milwaukee Road Depot (Museum Entrance)
Built in 1890, the same year that the railroad came to Menomonee
Falls, the Depot brought with it new commercial and industrial prosperity.
The Depot handled four passenger and freight trains daily, shipping local
products such as stone, lime, ice, milk, and sugar beets. |
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2. Umhoefer House This two story
log cabin was built by newlyweds Gregory and Anna Marie Umhoefer in 1856.
Together they raised eight sons and daughters in this tiny home.
A hand print in the stairwell plaster is that of Anna's brother returning
from the Civil War. As the story goes, he didn¹t know the plaster
was fresh. |
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3. School House This one room
school house was built in 1851 at a reported cost of $55.00. All
eight grades were taught by one teacher. Inside, a wood burning stove
provided needed warmth while water was pumped from an outdoor well.
Initials and names from bygone days can be seen carved into the original
dado walls. |
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4. Brogan Cabin The first concern
for the early frontier people who settled in Menomonee Falls was shelter
and a structure for their freedom of worship. This house was built
in 1842 by Irish immigrants, and is a rare example of the primitive but
sturdy dwellings erected by the earliest settlers. In addition, it
is believed to be the site of the first Catholic Mass in Waukesha. |
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5. Koch House Built in 1873, the
house is rather primitive in style despite the fact that the logs were
not hand hewn but rather produced in a local sawmill. A few years
after its construction an addition was attached to the building, and the
entire structure was covered with clapboard siding. In later years a wing
was added to the back of the dwelling where a small bottling dairy was
started which became known as the Koch Dairy. |
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6. Miller-Davidson House Built
in 1858 in the Greek Revival style of the time, the house is built of locally
quarried limestone. Original to the site, its uniqueness begins with an
unusual arched foundation. In 1935 it was selected by the Federal Government's
Historic American Building Survey. And in 1973 the National Register
of Historic Places listed this beautiful farm home among those to be preserved
for future generations. It is presented as a house improved as lifestyles
improved. |
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7. Barn Built soon after 1850,
the barn is one of the two original buildings remaining on the farm site.
Time-honored pioneer craftsmanship can be seen in the framework of the
building. The construction timbers were hewed and fitted by old-world
hand-tools. Inside, the barn is home to an exhibit of small farm,
industrial and household implements. |
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8. CARRIAGE HOUSE Currently under
construction, this structure will soon be home to an exhibit of antique
vehicles and transportation. |
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STEICHEN HOUSE: This home was owned from 1904
to 1915 by the parents of Edward Steichen, who is considered America's
most celebrated photographer. His sister, Lillian, met Carl Sandburg through
the Socialist Party in Milwaukee and they conversed via love letters. Lillian
invited Carl for a visit at her parent's home in Menomonee Falls, where
they spent a week together and married on June 13, 1908. Recently saved
from demolition, the home is closed restoration. |
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SPARROW CABIN: Built around 1849, formerly
located on silver Spring Drive where the cabin was hidden under clapboard
siding.. It is made of heavy Tamarack logs and weighs approximately 15
tons. A full fieldstone basement was built from rock cleared from the field,
the majority of which was granite. It is built in German style with half
dovetailed corners. |
Click
on each sketch to view a photo of the building.
