Historic Wade House Showcases a Full Slate of Winter Events

Sleigh rides, hearthside cooking, winter hikes, Homeschool Days, and engaging author talks

 highlight the seasonal event calendar

GREENBUSH, Wis. – Embrace the winter season while making some historical discoveries at Wade House, a Wisconsin Historical Society site, located in Greenbush. From preparing historic recipes over a wood burning hearth to gliding through snow-covered landscapes on a horse-drawn sleigh, these bygone traditions offer a memorable connection to the past.

This winter, guests can enjoy a variety of special events, including a new winter hike and home school days, taking place on select dates and suitable for a range of ages.

Check out these winter events at the Wade House historic site:

Hearthside Dinners - Cooking enthusiasts, food aficionados and history lovers seeking a culinary adventure can step back in time at Wade House’s Hearthside Dinner series. Held in the original 1850s stagecoach inn in rural Wisconsin, this guest-prepared dinner offers a nostalgic look at historic cooking and dining. Using simple, farm-grown and preserved ingredients, participants prepare the meal on a wood-heated cast-iron stove and over an open-hearth fire. Dinners will take place on Jan. 24, Feb. 14, Mar. 14, Apr. 11, Nov. 7 and 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Private Hearthside Dinners for a group of 14-18 can also be arranged. Themed menus include Wisconsin Winter (January and February), Yankee (March and April) and German (November). Each Hearthside Dinner costs $89 per person. Participants must be at least 13 years old. Reservations are required. Click here to book.

Wade House Timeless Tales Speaker Series – Discover tales of Wisconsin events, people and places at this monthly speaker series taking place at the Wade House Visitor Center.

• Saturday, Jan.31:  Steve Ackerman will present “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald: The Ship, the Storm and the Song.” Ackerman will examine the famed shipwreck, exploring the weather conditions that contributed to the disaster, the vessel’s construction, and Gordon Lightfoot’s song that helped shape the tragedy’s lasting folklore.  The Edmund Fitzgerald sank Nov. 10, 2025. Ackerman is the former vice chancellor for research and graduate education at UW-Madison, and an emeritus professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, and an expert in satellite meteorology.
•  Saturday, Feb. 21: Dean Robbins, author of “Wisconsin Idols: 100 Heroes Who Changed the State, the World and Me,” will discuss his book – a series of essays – highlighting 100 notable figures and their connections to Wisconsin.  While names such as Jackie Robinson, Oprah Winfrey, Harrison Ford, Elvis Presley, and Orson Wells may seem unrelated to the state’s history, Robbins reveals their often-surprising ties to Wisconsin. Guests will see photos and videos and hear humorous anecdotes as Robbins makes the case for Wisconsin as an influential crossroads for people who changed the world.  Wisconsin Idols was chosen as Book of the Month by both the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Madison Magazine in 2025. Dean Robbins is a journalist who has contributed to USA Today, The New York Daily News, GRAMMY magazine as well as serving as editor in chief of Isthmus and On Wisconsin magazine
• Saturday, Mar. 14:  Mary Bergin, author of “Small-Town Wisconsin: Fun, Surprising and Exceptional Road Trips,” will share highlights from her book, revealing dozens of destinations that appeal to travelers seeking safe, fun and under-the-radar escapes from big-city bustle. Bergin spotlights a mix of communities, many lesser-known or overlooked, that offer natural beauty, distinctive character and a strong sense of place. Each featured destination has a population of no more than 5,000, and often fewer than 1,000 residents. Bergin is an award-winning travel writer, who resides in Madison, and whose work has been nationally syndicated in the Chicago Tribune and USA Today networks.

This three-part series, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., includes a Q&A and an opportunity to purchase a book signed by the author. The cost is $8 for adults and teens, $6 for seniors (65+) and $6 for children (5-12). Reservations are highly recommended. Click here to book.

Wade House Hikes – Ramble through the woods with Wade House curator and naturalist Jim Willaert. With more than 240 acres to explore in Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine, Willaert leads 75-minute seasonal hikes through the area’s rolling countryside. On Saturday, Feb. 7, guests can join Woods in Winter. Participants may wear snowshoes, available on a first-come first-serve basis at the Wade House, while exploring woodland areas in search of tracks and other signs of wildlife. Additional hikes and themes include Habitat Hunt on Mar. 28, River Ramble on Aug. 1, and Fall Colors Walk on Oct. 3. Hikes run from 1 to 2:15 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults and teens, $5 for seniors (65+), $3 for children ages 5–12, and free for children younger than five. Reservations recommended. Click here to book.

Winter Home School Days at Wade House - Learners of all ages, from homeschooled learners to non-traditional students, can explore horse-powered travel of the mid-1800s on Feb. 12 and Mar. 12. The program takes place at the site’s Visitor Center and Wesley W. Jung Carriage Museum, where participants will tour the 20,000-square-foot museum housing Wisconsin’s largest collection of historic carriages, some more than 150 years old. Interactive exhibits and hands-on activities highlight how 19th-century immigrants built and used plank roads for travel. Participants will also examine a reproduction and an original Abbot-Downing stagecoach, build carriage models, and view original artifacts related to horse-powered transportation. Cost is $2 for children ages three to five, $5 for students in kindergarten through grade 12, and $10 for adults and seniors (65+). Two sessions are offered on each date, from 9 to 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Advance registration is required. Click here to book. 

Over the River and Through the Woods – Bundle up and experience the beauty of a horse-drawn sleigh ride on Saturday, Feb. 14. This Valentine’s Day event is perfect for families and romantics of all ages who wish to dash through the snow and enjoy the beauty of the season. Each sleigh ride is 30 minutes, with rides offered from 9:30 a.m. to 4  p.m. In the event of no snow, guests will enjoy a horse-drawn wagon ride. The cost is $15 for adults and teens, $13 for seniors (65+), $8 for children and $5 for children under five. Advance reservations required. Click here to book.

Reservation Details:

Reservations, for all events, can be made by going to wadehouse.org or calling 608-526-3271. All Wisconsin Historical Society members receive a 10 percent discount on special events and free admission to sites.

The Wade House Visitor Center and the Wesley W. Jung Carriage Museum, located at W7965 WI-23, Greenbush, Wis. 53026, is open every Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through May 17. All Sheboygan and Fond du Lac residents receive a 50 percent discount on the first Saturday of the month. During the winter months, the historic 27-room Stagecoach Inn is open only for hearthside dinners.

About Wade House

Wade House is one of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s 12 historic sites and museums. Located in Greenbush, the site includes an 1850s stagecoach inn that was built to serve traffic along a plank road connecting Fond du Lac and Sheboygan. The site tells the story of frontier entrepreneur Sylvanus Wade and his family during the 1850s and 1860s. In addition to the inn, the historic site includes the Dockstader blacksmith shop and Herrling sawmill, one of the few working, water-powered sawmills of its kind in the nation. Wade House is also home to the Wesley W. Jung Carriage Museum, which houses the state's largest collection of antique carriages and working wagons. For more information and a list of upcoming events call (920) 526-3271 or visit wadehouse.org. Wisconsin Historical Society members receive free admission to this site during regular operating hours.

About the Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active, and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. For more information, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org.