Cedarburg History Museum

Cedarburg History Museum Small town big history. Located in the heart of historic downtown Cedarburg.

Another colorized postcard originally photographed by Cedarburg's Dr. Wiesler. Considering the Cedarburg Mill, Columbia ...
06/24/2026

Another colorized postcard originally photographed by Cedarburg's Dr. Wiesler. Considering the Cedarburg Mill, Columbia Road stone arch bridge, power plant, and the interurban bridge visible in the distance, I'd date this view to the 1910s or perhaps the early 1920s.

There is stone everywhere in this photograph. Stone lines the banks of Cedar Creek. Stone boulders form the dam. Stone retaining walls support the landscape. The graceful stone arch bridge spans the creek, and of course the mill itself is built of locally quarried limestone. This certainly captures Cedarburg's reputation as Wisconsin's "stone village".

The image captures a festive scene with local musicians, fairgoers, brass instruments, a concertina, and even a wooden b...
06/23/2026

The image captures a festive scene with local musicians, fairgoers, brass instruments, a concertina, and even a wooden beer keg. According to the Ozaukee County News Graphic, a dance was held at Columbia Hall that evening as part of the fair festivities. Hanging from the table is a poster advertising the "Grand County Fair Ball" at Columbia Hall on Saturday, September 21, [1907].

Besides many different instruments and three rifles, there's also quite an interesting handpump beer dispenser on that smaller than a half-barrel of beer. (I've zoomed in on it and lightened it up)

The gentleman seated on the far right looks familiar from other photos but I can't place him right now. Do you recognize anyone in the photograph?
#1907

If you enjoy historic Cedarburg photographs, local stories, and museum collections, please follow the Cedarburg History ...
06/22/2026

If you enjoy historic Cedarburg photographs, local stories, and museum collections, please follow the Cedarburg History Museum page. More than 90% of the people who see our posts aren't yet followers. Help us preserve and share Cedarburg's history by following our page, sharing our posts, and inviting your friends to join our growing community!
In the last twelve months, our historic photos, stories, and artifacts were viewed more than 3.3 million times. Thank you for helping us keep Cedarburg's history alive!

A postcard from 1907 showing part of a panoramic view of downtown Cedarburg. We are looking west down Columbia Road towa...
06/22/2026

A postcard from 1907 showing part of a panoramic view of downtown Cedarburg. We are looking west down Columbia Road toward Washington Avenue from the upper floors of the Cedarburg Mill.
In the center of the image, beyond the Washington Avenue storefronts, stands the Interurban Depot, now home to the Ozaukee County Historical Society. The Interurban repair yards can also be seen behind the depot. At the time, the Milwaukee-Northern Interurban connected Cedarburg to Milwaukee and Sheboygan.
Notice the windmill behind what was then a bank. It was almost certainly used to pump water from a well into a storage tank. Even the edge of today's Cedarburg History Museum and Visitor Center is visible along the far right side of the photograph.
What details catch your eye?

Just a couple of friends taking a drive in a 1908 Buick owned by George Wittenberg. Fred Armbruster, Edgar Roth and Edwi...
06/21/2026

Just a couple of friends taking a drive in a 1908 Buick owned by George Wittenberg. Fred Armbruster, Edgar Roth and Edwin Jochem are off to explore the roads too. Well dressed so I hope the roads are not either muddy or dusty, right? I've been staring at that house in the background as those window openings seem a little unusual for the time. Maybe it's a remodel or addition waiting for the panes to go in? So much fun in these old images of Cedarburg.

The new concrete road bed, guardrails and lights were built on the older stone arch of the Columbia Road bridge. That st...
06/20/2026

The new concrete road bed, guardrails and lights were built on the older stone arch of the Columbia Road bridge. That stone bridge over Cedar Creek had been constructed by mason, Burchard Weber. Barth's restaurant, the Cedarburg Mill and the pagoda gas station are also easily visible in the photos. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we had lights on the bridge still today? Pagoda Fine Jewelry Cedarburg History Museum Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce

In 1904, the Excelsior Shoe and Slipper Company of Hamilton moved to the former Chickory Factory in Cedarburg. It was no...
06/19/2026

In 1904, the Excelsior Shoe and Slipper Company of Hamilton moved to the former Chickory Factory in Cedarburg. It was now located on Hilbert Street just north of Portland Road. During WWII, the buildings operated as a clothing factory for the military, pants I believe. The buildings were torn down in the 1970s to build Cedar Creek Heights.

What is that stone pillar in the yard of the residential complex today seen in the Google Maps image?

International Picnic Day!Why not head out to one of our oldest area parks, Cedarburg Covered Bridge Park, just north of ...
06/18/2026

International Picnic Day!

Why not head out to one of our oldest area parks, Cedarburg Covered Bridge Park, just north of Highway 60?

This real photo postcard from 1927 shows the intricate latticework and pure wooden construction of the Cedarburg Covered Bridge spanning Cedar Creek. At the time this photograph was taken, the bridge was just 51 years old. This year, it celebrates its 150th anniversary!

Notice the automobile waiting on the far side of the bridge. Since only one vehicle could cross at a time, the driver may have pulled over to allow the photographer to pass.

The Cedarburg Covered Bridge remains one of our county's and Wisconsin's most recognizable historic landmarks and a favorite destination for picnics, photographs, and a walk through local history. Explore Ozaukee

Although first constructed in 1867 to serve as a center for exercise and recreation, Hamilton's Turn Halle only served t...
06/17/2026

Although first constructed in 1867 to serve as a center for exercise and recreation, Hamilton's Turn Halle only served that purpose for about a decade before being used as other purposes in the 1870s. In 1892, Andrew Bodendoerfer began the Excelsior Shoe and Slipper Company in the building. Photograph of the employees in front of the building. A paper label is also shown along with an 1893 partial Sanborn Fire Insurance Map. The business grew until it was relocated to a larger building in Cedarburg. Today the Turn Halle is home to Turnhall Financial Group - Thrivent

The NBA championship is over, the World Cup is just getting started but there's still baseball season every summer. It's...
06/16/2026

The NBA championship is over, the World Cup is just getting started but there's still baseball season every summer. It's been happening in Cedarburg as long as we've had a newspaper to cover it (1883). This is a 1912 photo of a team sponsored by Gerritts Rexall Drug Store. (Gerrits was in building that now has Ryloo Boutique) Besides playing other Cedarburg clubs, they'd travel to nearby cities like Grafton, West Bend, Port Washington, Hartford, etc. Back Row from Left to Right: Emil Kirmsee, Chester Fry, Ed Riebe, Dr. Poole, Gust Riebe, N.J. Filitz, Ray Ertl and George Gerrits. Front: Leland Dietrich, Franklin Dietrich, mascot Franklin Gerrits, Walter Kirmsee and Walter Freund.

Oh, and the Milwaukee Brewers are leading by a few games in their Division.

Address

N58W6194 Columbia Road
Cedarburg, WI
53012

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

+12627462099

Website

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