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Trinity Freistadt Historical Society · Est. 1965

Freistadt Firsts

Wisconsin's first German settlement, the state's first Lutheran pastor, and a band that has played the Fourth of July for generations.

  1. 1839

    Forty families arrive

    Pomeranian "Old Lutheran" families, led by Heinrich von Rohr, buy 1,200 acres of forest sixteen miles northwest of Milwaukee and name their settlement Freistadt — "free city." It is Wisconsin's first German settlement.

    Painting of emigrants crowded on the deck of a sailing ship leaving harbor

  2. 1840

    The $45 church and school

    In their first spring, the settlers raise a 30-by-20-foot log building for church and school, doing all the labor themselves. Total cost: $45. The congregation is eventually named Trinity.

    The settler-era log cabin at the historic site at sunset, behind a split-rail fence

  3. 1841

    Wisconsin's first Lutheran pastor

    Rev. L.F.E. Krause becomes the first Lutheran pastor to work in Wisconsin, serving the Freistadt congregation. His chronicle of church life from 1841–1848 survives — and is available from the society in translation.

    Wisconsin state historical marker for the Oldest Lutheran Church in Wisconsin, which names Rev. Krause

  4. 1845

    The band begins a July 4th tradition

    Trinity Freistadt begins celebrating the Fourth of July, with the church band part of the celebration most years since. The tradition continues today with the Freistadt Alte Kameraden Band.

    Brick Trinity sign on the lawn reading “Celebrate July 4th at Trinity!”

  5. 1884

    The fourth church

    The congregation builds its fourth church, designed by architect Frederich Velguth — still in use today, on the same land purchased in 1839.

    Historic photograph of the Freistadt crossroads with the steepled 1884 church at right

  6. 1965

    The Historical Society is formed

    The Trinity Freistadt Historical Society forms to operate and maintain the historical portions of the grounds, preserving a village of thirteen historic buildings.

    The white barn with red trim and a horseshoe over its door, a rope swing hanging beside it

  7. 2014

    175th anniversary

    Freistadt celebrates 175 years with a busy season of special services, reenactments, and open days on the historic grounds.

    The log cabin under snow at sunset, the sky glowing red behind bare trees

  8. 2025

    The society's 60th year

    The society marks its 60th anniversary — and pushes ahead on its biggest project in decades: raising a timber-frame Exhibition Barn to display the collection.

    Concept rendering of the planned timber-frame Exhibition Barn with sliding doors and covered porch

  9. Today

    The story continues

    Events all year, tours of the thirteen buildings, publications preserving the emigration story — and a new generation learning why forty families crossed an ocean for the freedom to worship.

    The steeple of the 1884 Trinity church rising above summer trees against a blue sky
Wisconsin state historical marker titled “The Oldest Lutheran Church in Wisconsin,” set in stone pillars with flowers planted at its base, recounting the 1839 settlement of Freistadt
The state historical marker at Freistadt — "The Oldest Lutheran Church in Wisconsin" — tells the 1839 story to every passerby.

The full story behind these milestones is told in the five-part Emigration Story and the society's publications.