Neillsville, WI. – Reed School, one of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s 12 historic sites and museums, will reopen to the public on July 31, 2021. It will be open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. through the end of October, 2021. Admission is free for all guests.
“Reed School is an important cultural landmark that illustrates how much education in Wisconsin has changed since the school first opened to students in 1915,” said David Rambow, Reed School site director. “Visitors to the site journey back to a time when one-room schoolhouses were a typical sight along the state’s rural landscape. We are thrilled to reopen Reed School so that guests can once again take in its rich history.”
Reed School was constructed in 1915 after the original structure burned to the ground. Measuring 30 feet by 50 feet, it features a concrete foundation and wood-frame bell tower, and was considered a modern building for the World War I era though it lacked indoor plumbing and did not have electricity until 1941. Hundreds of students attended Reed School while it was in operation from 1915 until 1951.
The classroom has been restored to its 1939 appearance so that visitors can be immersed in the typical school day experience of a bygone era. Visitors can learn about the history of the free school movement in the United States from a panel exhibit on site and hear about the experiences of former students who once received an education at Reed School. Historic school supplies on display serve as a reminder of how modern technology has transformed education. To learn more about Reed School, visit reedschool.wisconsinhistory.org.
For the most up to date information about the Wisconsin Historical Society’s sites and museums, visit wisconsinhistory.org/sites.
About Reed School
Reed School is a historic site located in Neillsville, Wisconsin. Built in 1915, it served as a one-room country school until 1951. The school provided an education to students in the first through eighth grades with only a single teacher. Reed School is representative of more than 6,000 one-room schools that once dotted the landscape of rural Wisconsin. For general information and details, call 608-253-3523 or visit reedschool.wisconsinhistory.org.
About 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.
