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Germantown Area Tourism

Area Attractions and Lodging

Distinct attractions and museums dot the landscape of the Germantown area such as the Heinsville Settlement, the Museum of Wisconsin Art and the Old Courthouse Museum.

The Germantown Area's location near the city of Milwaukee puts it within close distance of a host of additional popular diversions that are not to be missed while someone is visiting the southeastern Wisconsin area.

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

• HEINSVILLE SETTLEMENT Established in 1842 by German immigrants from the Hunsruck Mountain region and named for the Philip Dhein family, Dheinsville stands as the oldest business center in Germantown. Situated along Holy Hill Road at the six corners of Highway 145/Fond du Lac Avenue and Maple Road, the hamlet has retained all of its 22 original structures—distinguished by the German-style framing known as fachwerk— with many having undergone extensive restoration. Within the historic 9.5-acre park, which is overseen by the Germantown Historical Society, visitors can browse through three museums, view the World War I Memorial and take part in a calendar of events—most notably the settlement’s Annual Oktoberfest.

• CHRIST CHURCH MUSEUM OF LOCAL HISTORY Though this lannon stone church, originally known as the Evangelisch Christus Kirche, was built in 1862, the congregation was initially founded in 1842—making it the oldest congregation in Germantown. The Christ Church Museum, which has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places, features gorgeous stained-glass windows and a host of changing exhibits depicting local history. Abutting the structure is a cemetery dating back to 1848.

• SILA LYDIA BAST BELL MUSEUM Nestled within a restored 1874-1910 barn in the center of Dheinsville Settlement, the Bast Bell Museum is lined with a collection of more than 5,000 bells from all over the world—constituting Wisconsin’s largest publicly exhibited collection of its kind. The bells were collected by Ms. Sila Lydia Bast, a native of Germantown (1900-1992). Also displayed in the museum are a number of artifacts—including a working 1929 Seagrave Fire Engine from the Germantown Volunteer Fire Company. www.bastbellmuseum.com

• VALENTINE WOLF HAUS MUSEUM & GENEALOGY RESEARCH CENTER Originally the home to Valentine Wolf, circa 1854, Wolf Haus is the oldest example of fachwerk architecture in the community. Today, the restored structure is utilized by the Germantown Historical Society as the location for the Jeffris Family Foundation Research Library. Through the years, the Historical Society has collected a wealth of relevant documents, records, books, photographs, and more that represent the history of the area.

HOLY HILL NATIONAL SHRINE Situated atop the highest elevation in southeastern Wisconsin and within five miles of Germantown, Holy Hill has been considered a sacred place for centuries. Holy Hill was proclaimed a Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians, in 1903, with its status raised to Minor Basilica in November of 2006. The neo-Romanesque architecture of the church, circa 1926, and the overall spiritual essence of the area attracts more than 500,000 visitors from all over the world every year. www.holyhill.com

MUSEUM OF WISCONSIN ART 300 S. Sixth Avenue West Bend, WI 53095 (262) 334-9638 • Fax (262) 334-8080 The Museum of Wisconsin Art (MWA) is America’s newest regional art museum and has the premier collection of Wisconsin art throughout the ages. Its Early Wisconsin Collection, 1830-1960, is the finest anywhere, and the work of Milwaukee-born, Munich-trained artist Carl von Marr, 1858-1936, is prominently displayed with his 14’ x 26’ magnum opus, The Flagellants (1889), which is listed as one of the must-see art objects in the state. Contemporary art is displayed primarily in the One from Wisconsin exhibition series, which changes monthly. MWA was named #2 of the top 50-day trip destinations by Chicago Magazine in 2002. It is open Wednesday through Friday 10:00 am to 4:30 pm and Sunday from 1:00-4:40 pm. For details, please visit the website at www.wisconsinart.org or call (262) 334-9638.

OLD COURTHOUSE MUSEUM Take a step back in time at the Old Courthouse Museum, which has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in the Romanesque Revival style in 1889, the structure served as the county’s courthouse until the construction of a new facility was completed in 1962. For the next 30 years, the old courthouse was home to the Department of Social Services and now houses the Washington County Historical Society, which transformed the structure into a museum depicting local history. Permanent and temporary displays, the Norm Colby Interpretive Center, a restored Circuit Courtroom and the Washington County Historical Society’s Research Center are all located here under one roof. www.historyisfun.com/Courtroom.htm

WISCONSIN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM Located in nearby Hartford, the Wisconsin Automotive Museum hails as the state’s largest automobile museum. The always-expanding collection presents an array of classic automobiles, including Kissel, Nash and Hudson autos, plus nearly 100 additional unique displays and related memorabilia. The museum also houses the Southeastern Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame, as well as a 250-ton locomotive exhibit. www.wisconsinautomuseum.com

LODGING

After a day of sightseeing, finding a comfortable place to rest is easy in the Germantown area. Both business travelers and tourists can find plenty of modern amenities and pleasant accommodations near many of Germantown’s attractions and further resources through its four hotels/motels.

AMERICINN LODGE & SUITES—GERMANTOWN
W190 N10862 Commerce Circle
Germantown, WI 53022
(262) 502-9750 or (888) 205-1707 www.americinn.com/hotels/WI/Germantown
• High-Speed Internet Access
• Business Center and Meeting Room
• Indoor Pool and Whirlpool
• Guest Laundry Facilities
• Complimentary Continental Breakfast

COUNTRY INN & SUITES BY CARLSON— GERMANTOWN
W188 N11020 Maple Road
Germantown, WI 53022
(262) 251-7700 or (888) 201-1746 www.countryinns.com/germantownwi
• High-Speed Internet Access
• Business Center and Meeting and Conference Rooms (up to 50)
• Indoor Pool and Whirlpool
• Fitness Center
• Complimentary Deluxe Continental Breakfast

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS—GERMANTOWN (NW MILWAUKEE)
W177 N9675 Riversbend Lane
Germantown, WI 53022
(262) 255-1100 or (888) 465-4329
www.hiexpress.com
• High-Speed Internet Access
• Business Center
• Indoor Pool and Whirlpool
• Health & Fitness Center
• Guest Laundry Facilities
• Complimentary Continental Breakfast

SUPER 8 MOTEL—GERMANTOWN
N96 W17490 County Line Road
Germantown, Wisconsin 53022
(262) 255-0880 or (800) 800-8000
www.super8germantown.com
• High-Speed Internet Access
• Indoor Pool and Whirlpool
• Complimentary SuperStart Breakfast