Stepping Back in Time

The Ozaukee County Pioneer Village in the Town of Saukville is a village representing how times were around the time of the 19th century. Located in the Hawthorne Hills area, there are 20 buildings that feature period furniture, barns, and outbuildings. The original Cedarburg Railroad Depot has been moved here and restored to its original form. Admission is very reasonable at $6.00 for adults, and $4.00 for children and seniors. Families can get a group rate of $16.00. There is ample free parking on the site, so this an affordable activity for families and individuals.

The Village plays host to family gatherings, picnics, reunions, special events, and reunions. This is a unique location for your next event or party. Food and beverages are served on special event dates, and guests are not permitted to carry in outside food and beverages on these days.

The field trip options for classes who wish to visit the Pioneer Village include a visit to the Stony Hill School. In 1977, the Ozaukee Historical Society acquired the Stony Hill School, which was the birthplace of National Flag Day. Children have the opportunity to witness what it was like to learn in a single room schoolhouse. The schoolhouse program offers a two hour program that simulates the school experience. There is a character school teacher dressed in period clothing, and kids are able to use period books and materials. This is an interesting way to engage children in learning about history. It is exciting for them to participate in the program because they get to act out the events of the period. The program is open to fourth graders, and the goal is to teach them to appreciate "old fashioned'' values and work ethics.

There are two options for those who wish to participate in the program. Kids can spend 9:30 to 11:30 and the curriculum includes raising the flag, reading, writing with quill pens, ringing the bells, using slate, and sitting in the same desks kids of the 1800's would have used. Following lunchtime, kids get to go to Pioneer Village to tour and explore the living museum. There is an Indian trading post, German designed homes, a blacksmith shop, and the railroad depot. These experiences are a great way to really engage children in history. They get the chance to enjoy a real life school experience and then head over to see what life was all about in a real village of that time.

Teachers and parents are able to incorporate these experiences into their lessons and children are truly engaged because they are able to interact with people and materials from that time period. This is a far more successful way of learning that reading about the time period from a text book. If you are looking for a way to expose children to history in a fun, interesting way they will remember and that will help them learn, plan a visit to Ozaukee County Pioneer Village. This is an experience you and your kids will not regret.