Dousman Stagecoach Inn Museum
A Brookfield Landmark
This stately Greek Revival Inn, once stood at the corner of Bluemound and Watertown Plank Roads. It was built in 1843 by Michael Dousman, whose grandson Louis, later built the Villa Louis in Prairie du Chien. Mr. Dousman ran the stagecoach inn until his death in1854.
In 1857, Daniel Brown purchased the property and ran it as a stagecoach inn to accommodate travelers using the plank road that ran from Milwaukee to Watertown, Wisconsin.
After 1872, railroads supplanted stagecoach travel and the inn became a farm owned by Frederick Zimdars. From 1887 to 1980, its owners were Charles Dunkel and his descendents. John Behling, a descendent, donated the inn to the City of Brookfield who leased it to the Elmbrook Historical Society to restore and operate as a museum.
In 1981, the inn was moved by the Elmbrook Historical Society to its current location at 1075 Pilgrim Parkway in Brookfield, Wisconsin. It is still on part of the original property purchased by Michael Dousman.
Since then, society volunteers have restored and furnished the Inn with beautiful authentic antiques to the period when it was a stagecoach inn. In addition, outbuildings have been added: The Donaldson Visitor’s Center/Aggies Antiques Gift Shop, which was originally a 1852 log cabin; an Ice House, a Smoke House, a Wagon/Blacksmith Shop, and the Woodside School Bell Tower.
The all volunteer historical society has raised over $2,000,000. to move, restore, furnish and operate the stagecoach inn museum and out buildings.
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