Discover the Daily Life of Learning in a One-Room School House

Neillsville, WI – Reed School, one of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s historic sites, will open for the season on May 27. The one-room historic schoolhouse will be open on weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. until the season ends on Sunday, October 29, 2023.

Reed School is one of an estimated 6,000 one-room schoolhouses that once existed within the rural landscape of Wisconsin. Built in 1915 and used as a school until the early 1950s, Reed School tells the story of early public education in Wisconsin and life as a student in the era when one teacher taught everything from reading to writing and arithmetic to all grade levels under one roof.

The Gordon V. Smith family purchased the school and restored it to its 1939 appearance before it became a Wisconsin Historical Society state historic site in 2007. General admission to Reed School is free of charge during regular season hours.

For further information, visit reedschool.wisconsinhistory.org.

Click here to view Reed School photo gallery.

Upcoming Events:

“Seeds in Soil: Planting a Garden and Finding Your Roots” – Sept. 16, 2 p.m.

Susan Apps-Bodilly discusses her latest book, “Seeds in Soil: Planting a Garden and Finding Your Roots.” Discover fun projects and fresh recipes that will help your family dig its time together outside. Join the discussion with a Q&A and meet-and-greet following the talk. Take home a signed copy of the book. Enjoy complimentary light refreshments. Tickets are $10 for adults and teens, $9 for seniors, $5 for children, and children under five are free. Wisconsin Historical Society members receive a 10 percent discount.

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 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.