Wauwatosa Historical Society | 19th Century School House

19th Century Schoolhouse

The Wauwatosa Historical Society offers a 2½ hour turn-of-the-century school day experience for all second grade students who attend both public and private schools in Wauwatosa. The re-created 19th Century Schoolhouse operates in spring and fall - to rave reviews by the classes that have participated.

The second floor of the Coach House has been transformed into a replica of a one-room schoolhouse, complete with old-fashioned wood and iron desks, slate chalk boards, a pot-bellied stove, and McGuffy readers.

The standard 2½ hour program includes:

A reading lesson (students stand to read and recite)
An arithmetic lesson (including mental figuring and work on chalkboards and slates)
A geography and civics lesson (including a discussion of how many states in the Union, and changes to the pledge of allegiance
A variety of games and activities that were used in the early 1900s
An explanation of the artifacts and equipment in the school house
A brief tour of the historic Kneeland-Walker House
A slide show depicting early Wauwatosa buildings, people, and events
A workbook for each student to use during the program, and that can be taken home

The Wauwatosa Historical Society's Schoolhouse program is offered free of charge to all second graders in Wauwatosa schools. Other groups pay fees of $3 per person for the program. The Wauwatosa Historical Society accepts bookings from school districts outside of Wauwatosa, and from non-profit or private organizations, such as scouting troops. A minimum of 15 students is required; a maximum of 28 students is permitted.

POINTS FOR VISITORS:
-The Schoolhouse is on the second floor of the Coach House on the Kneeland-Walker grounds. Students must climb a flight of stairs, as there is not an elevator in the Coah House. Students will sit in rows of wooden school desks. Keep this in mind when scheduling students with disabilites.
-Schoolhouse programs are offered Monday - Thursday in September, October, April and May.

	Ringing the bell.
	Boy at desk.
	Students during class in the schoolhouse.