The tornado that pushed through Waukesha County on Monday night has resulted in the temporary closing of a state historical site. Old World Wisconsin, the state Historical Society’s outdoor museum near Eagle, is closed for the next several days because of significant storm damage.
State Historical Society spokesman Bob Granflaten says most of the damage to the facility was to the landscape. The high winds left the parking lot, visitors center, and many roads on the 576-acre site covered with downed trees.
The only structural damage reported so far was to the roof of the historic Ramsey Barn and the octagonal Clausing Barn. The buildings house a gift shop and restaurant.
Granflaten says the DNR and State Risk Management are working to clean up the site and to make a complete assessment of the damage. Old World Wisconsin is expected to reopen once that work is complete.