The McFarland Historical Society

Upcoming 2026 Events

August 16 – Lawn Games at the Larson House Museum, 1-4 pm, featuring home tours and live music indoors and out. Join us for some old-fashioned fun, and get a certificate for ice cream at Lily’s Ice Cream Parlor just across the street.

Sept 19-20 – 370 Years of Historic Fashion, a live stage fashion show to benefit the MHS, held at McFarland High School. Click here to buy tickets!

Sept 26-27 – During the McFarland Community Festival, Prairie Tech will be selling Wisconsin native plants at the Historical Museum on Main Street from 11-3. Half the profits go to the McFarland Historical Society. Help pollinators, beautify your yard, and celebrate village history all at the same time!

See our Public Events Calendar for details on the above events and more.

Volunteer Opportunities

We welcome volunteers of all ages, and you don’t have to be an MHS member to join us. You can volunteer for a single slot a year, or sign up for ongoing volunteer tasks if you prefer. Volunteering is a great way to make new friends and show your McFarland community pride–whether you grew up here or just moved here last week!

To learn more, visit:

See McFarland History Up Close

The McFarland Historical Society offers several free attractions in downtown McFarland, Wisconsin, all within two blocks of one another:

  • A curated history museum, Norwegian log cabin, and an annex featuring early farming displays, all located at 5814 Main Street.
  • The Larson House, a restored 1898 Queen Anne “gingerbread” house located at 6003 Exchange Street.
  • The public gardens surrounding the Larson House, free to visit anytime year-round.
  • We also sponsor a reading room at the E.D. Locke Library at 5920 Milwaukee Street.

For days/hours, links to photos of each location, and to learn about group tours, see our Visit Us page. 

Below are examples of some recent exhibits. You can also visit our page with YouTube videos and historical photos of McFarland’s past.

Rent the Larson House for Your Next Event

Looking for the perfect venue for your next event? The Larson House Museum is available at a super affordable half-day or full-day rate.

Recent rentals have included:

  • Baby and bridal showers
  • Book club meetings
  • Birthday, graduation, and retirement parties
  • Costumed tea parties
  • Weddings
  • Murder mystery dinners
  • Class reunions

To learn more, see Rent the Larson House Museum.

Larson House museum in McFarland, Wisconsin

Membership and Donations

Want to help keep local history alive now and into the future?

  • Join the Society starting at just $15/year for an individual membership. Meet fun people and enjoy fascinating guest speakers, day trip opportunities, and a highly-anticipated Annual Meeting each March.
  • Volunteer as much or little as you want; even just an hour a year helps! You can volunteer without being a Society member.
  • Donate online, or contribute to a donation box when you visit either of our museums. Any amount is appreciated!
  • Purchase a book about McFarland history online or in-person at our museums.
  • Buy a t-shirt of Skare log cabin or the Larson House for $15 at either of our museums. Available in sizes M, L, XL.
historic image of farms in mcfarland wisconsin

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