This Small Wisconsin Town Has The Best Downtown
Cedarburg is a small town in the midwestern state of Wisconsin. It is located just 20 miles north of Milwaukee and has a population of around 12,121 residents. It is known for its outdoor recreational opportunities due to its parks, bike trails, lakes, and proximity to Lake Michigan.
However, Cedarburg also has a charming historic downtown that has remained unchanged since the town's beginnings in the mid-1800s, with the preservation of over 200 buildings of historical significance. Consequently, Cedarburg’s downtown charm has earned it a designation on the National Register of Historic Places.
Cedarburg's History
Cedarburg’s downtown is enhanced by the town’s history. Cedarburg was founded in the early 1840s by Irish and German immigrants who were drawn in by the potential of power from Cedar Creek. Cedarburg’s first settlers established a rural trading center by 1846, while harvesting limestone with local quarries for functional houses and businesses, many of which still stand today and are a key feature of the town.
On March 2nd, 1849, the town of Cedarburg became a civil town of Washington County, and later on March 7th, 1853, a town of Ozaukee County. Wittenburg Mill was built in 1984 and was the only woolen mill west of Philadelphia to produce worsted yarns. Today, the mill operates as the Cedar Creek Settlement and houses a collection of shops, art studios, antique stores, and restaurants that offer handmade crafts, locally produced goods, and souvenirs.
Post-World War II suburbanization affected Cedarburg significantly. By the 1960s, the mills had all closed. The city experienced rapid population growth and the development of new commercial properties and housing subdivisions.
Downtown Attractions
Downtown Cedarburg is home to many 19th-century buildings filled with boutiques, wineries, and coffee shops. The Cedarburg Art Museum is located on Washington Avenue and is housed in a historic red brick building, designed with a combination of Romanesque, Queen Anne, and Classical architecture. The former multi-tenant apartment building is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and exhibiting the art of Wisconsin, with a special emphasis on Cedarburg and the surrounding region’s artistic heritage. The building has retained the original oak woodwork, hand-painted canvases on the ceiling in the foyer, and the original stained glass window on the open staircase leads up to the second and third levels of the structure, which provide a bird’s eye view of Cedarburg’s historic district.
Downtown Cedarburg’s Chocolate Factory tempts with creamy shakes, handmade fudge, towering sundaes, cheerful scoops, and nostalgic, family-friendly charm, all year-round. Additionally, the Stilt House occupies a historic building and former tavern of Nick Schuh, who raised the building up on stilts and built a first floor underneath after his request to build a second floor was denied. Today, it provides fine dining, high-end American Craft beers, and a large variety of wines.
The Cedar Creek Winery was originally a working woolen mill until 1969, when it went out of business due to the introduction of synthetic fabrics. Today it operates as an award-winning winery in the heart of downtown Cedarburg. The building’s limestone underground cellars provide an optimal environment for fermenting and aging wines in oak barrels. The main floor hosts tours, tastings, and a shop.
Downtown Festivals
For over 50 years, annual festivals have been a staple of the Cedarburg community and are held throughout the year. The Winter Festival is held annually on the third full weekend in February. It is an indoor and outdoor event held along Washington Avenue in which Cedarburg’s boutiques, bars, and restaurants join in. Some of the activities include ice sculpting, strolling through the vendor marketplace, and the bed race, where teams race decorated beds down the frozen Cedar Creek.
Each fall, Cedarburg, Wisconsin’s Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off celebrates colossal gourds, proud growers, cheering crowds, quirky records, small-town harvest magic, and togetherness. Moreover, the Strawberry Festival is held annually in the fourth full weekend in June. It is a free, family-friendly festival held on Washington Avenue and has an array of activities, including shopping, children's activities, demonstrations, contests, live music, and festival food such as strawberry shortcake and strawberry wine.
Historic Accommodation
There are many accommodation options in downtown, including Washington House Inn, Wisconsin’s first inn, which was founded in 1846. The Inn preserves Cedarburg’s history, combining modern amenities such as fireplaces and whirlpool tubs and pairing them with rooms with exposed stone and plaster walls, exposed beams, plank wood floors, four-poster beds, and locally acquired antiques. Each of the 34 rooms has its own unique character, from the varying décor ranging between sophisticated casual country to formal Victorian style. Staying in this historic downtown inn allows guests to experience a piece of United States heritage that has withstood the test of time.
The inn is located on Washington Avenue, in the heart of Cedarburg’s Historic District, providing easy access to the many art galleries, antique shops, and popular restaurants.
The Best Downtown in Wisconsin
Cedarburg’s downtown is a vibrant and bustling area, filled with unique hotels, restaurants, and art galleries that preserve and encapsulate the town’s rich history. Much of downtown is built with native limestone from the mid-1800s, and many of the original buildings are still standing. There are many popular festivals held throughout the year that engage the whole community. All these factors culminate in Wisconsin’s best downtown.
