Creating Old World Wisconsin: The Struggle to Build an Outdoor History Museum of Ethnic Architecture

“A meticulously researched account of the development of a premier historical attraction of significance not only to Wisconsin but to the entire nation. Krugler takes the reader from what was once just a vision to preserve vestiges of our state’s unique architectural legacy, through many perplexing challenges that complicated the museum’s construction, to what has become one of America’s largest and finest outdoor museums of rural American life.”—William H. Tishler, author of Door County’s Emerald Treasure: A History of Peninsula State Park

“Highly recommended reading for anyone who has ever visited one of Wisconsin’s premier attractions, Creating Old World Wisconsin is a ‘must’ for all Wisconsin school and college library collections.”—The Midwest Book Review

“Krugler fairly applauds the WHS visionaries, and those who supported them with money and volunteered during times of significant trouble, for their heroic endeavor. Krugler’s book is a welcome description of what these people finally achieved.”—William Siles, Public Historian 

“Krugler [has] produced a book that explores, in detail, the struggle to build this ethnic history museum. It is a book that every public historian responsible for historic buildings and sites should read.”—The Public Historian

“A worthy narrative that details the enormous task of making a museum.”—Museum Anthropology

“Details the fascinating origins of the outdoor museum and the obstacles that confronted its supporters, including limited funding, bureaucratic snags and a skeptical public.”—Madison Magazine

Arnold Alanen, Series Editor