Watch history come to life.

We’re off to see the Wizard! Oconomowoc has a special relationship with MGM’s classic 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz. The movie had its “World Premier Showing” on August 12 at the Strand Theatre before the official opening at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on August 15. According to an MGM spokesperson, the studio wanted an idea of how Middle America would react to the film. The film's composer, Herbert Stothart, who won an Oscar for his work on the score, had a vacation home on Okauchee Lake. Every five years, the city shuts down a portion of Wisconsin Avenue, sets up an enormous viewing screen at one end, and invites the community to enjoy the movie. Hundreds of adults and children once again are caught up in the story and music. In August 2024, to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the premiere, the City of Oconomowoc refurbished these statues and renovated this space. The American Film Institute ranked the film at #10 in their list, "The 100 Greatest American Films of All Time."

This early building once served as a livery stable for the townspeople, then later for the Jones House hotel which stood on the corner west of here. By 1920, it became the Oconomowoc Wooden Toy Horse Company, a maker of rocking horses. In 1925 the First National Bank purchased the building and substantially remodeled it, adding a façade of Bedford stone and Minnesota pearl pink granite. The name has been changed several times over the years, becoming Chase Bank in 2004.

This triangular building, constructed by George W. Fay in 1869, is one of the most iconic sites in the community. Originally constructed of brick, the exterior and interior have been remodeled several times. At the time this structure was built, the term “block” was used to denote a building that housed several units. Summit Bank was originally located where Veterans Park is today before it moved to this building in 1870. After 115 years at this corner location, the bank moved to its current site one block west and is now known as Bank Five Nine, reflecting its founding year. Throughout its history, the bank has remained an independent, locally-owned community bank. Bank Five Nine is the second oldest bank in the state of Wisconsin. Since 1993, the headquarters for Rocky Rococo Restaurants has occupied the first floor, while other businesses can be found on the second floor.

This three-story Italianate building has always included shops and businesses on the first two floors. In the past, the third floor was used for an armory, social gatherings, public meetings, and theatrical performances. Note the large double-bracketed cornices along the roof line, as well as the niche with the date 1871 on the east wall. An extensive renovation was completed in 2019, including new windows and a black façade on the street level, as well as interior reconstruction.

This area was once the site of several significant early Oconomowoc businesses including the Peter Klos Saloon, Wegener’s Restaurant, Marine Railway boat shed, and Hugo Lorleberg’s Hardware Store. Established in 1870, Lorleberg’s occupied the center building at 131 N. Main St. until 1970 when it moved to a new building on E. Wisconsin Ave. Lorleberg’s is the oldest, continuously operating retail business in Oconomowoc.

This community park honors all veterans, both living and deceased. The Oconomowoc Area Veterans Group, Inc. provided all services and costs connected to raising the money for the park’s completion. A three-story water-powered grist mill was located at this site from 1857 to 1936. Located north of the entrance to Veterans Memorial Park but razed in 1988, were three buildings known as the “Library Complex.” These buildings were considered Oconomowoc’s original downtown business district. Early businesses once housed in these buildings included a hardware store, a general store, a bank, City Hall, the post office, and the Telephone Co. among others. The complex also served as the public library/museum for many years.

The land for the church was donated by John S. Rockwell, the “Father of Oconomowoc." The Romanesque limestone church that you see here replaced an earlier red brick structure. Zion’s beautiful peninsula setting on the lake is one of the city’s outstanding landmarks.

The original structure was remodeled in 1899 by David Gould, a St. Louis millionaire. Inside, the sixteen-room mansion was fitted with eleven fireplaces. The once broad lot had sunken gardens and tennis courts. It has gone through at least two renovations since that time.

Built by Captain John Scudder from St. Louis as a summer home, the house has a huge veranda on two sides that makes it appear half again as large. It was known as “Scudder’s Cottage,” and remained in the family until around 1920 when it was purchased by Caroline Kohl, a prominent Oconomowoc resident. In 1922 the Freemasons purchased the mansion to be used as their lodge for the next 92 years. Extensive remodeling from 2016 to 2019 by new owners returned the mansion to its former glory. Notice the exceptional widow’s walk on the highest point of the home, the oval window in the triangular gable, and on the south side, the beautiful porte-cochere, a roofed structure that allows vehicles to pass through.

Built by H. G. Brookings, a St. Louis businessman, the Queen Anne-style mansion was used as a summer home for the family until the 1920s. By 1955, the third floor and part of the second floor had been converted to apartments. The massive three-story octagonal tower has an unusual porch, opening on three sides on the top floor.

This was the former site of the Harold Peck mansion. Harold was one of the sons of Philip and Mary Peck. Harold died during the construction of the mansion. The home was completed by his widow for $15,000 becoming one of the most expensive mansions in the area at that time. In 1991 the home was razed and a condominium was built in its place.

This condominium was formerly the site of Draper Hall, a small roadside hotel that was later remodeled into a large, rambling hotel with a seven-column colonnade across the front. The columns were three stories tall. Famous guests included Grover Cleveland, Spencer Tracy, and Marshall Field. In the 1870s, it had 46 rooms, later remodeling doubled that number. The hotel passed through several owners and was finally razed in 1967. Draper Hall Condominiums were built in 1972.

This was the home of J. C. Hitchcock, who was in the hardware business. The grounds had a large mineral spring which furnished the home with drinking water. The Swiss Cottage style home was designed by Milwaukee architect James Douglas, as was its next-door neighbor to the right. Both homes have the same floor plan.

In 1879 Mr. Martin B. Medbery transferred this property to his wife. Built by Eunice Medbery, this house with its roof and stick-style gable is typical of architect James Douglas’ work. In 1942, Catherine Clark, founder and owner of Brownberry Ovens, and her husband Russell purchased this residence. Many recipes for her nationally recognized breads were developed in the kitchen of this home.

This Queen Anne Revival-style home was built by G. W. Fuller of Chicago. The north wall has an unusual window layout, a scroll-cut decorative panel at the third-floor level, and ornamental shingle siding.

The southern portion of this home was built in 1846 by Martin Townsend for his son, Dr. Hosea Townsend, the city’s first resident physician. In the 1850s, it was purchased by Dr. William Warner, who built an addition to the north. Later, Rev. Ezra Jones, rector of Zion Episcopal Church, purchased the property, added a second story on the north end, and opened a school for boys. The property was purchased by Dr. Orlando W. Wight in 1869 but was sold again in 1872 to Mary Peck, the widow of Philip Peck, who had acquired great wealth in early Chicago real estate. Mr. Peck died from injuries sustained during the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Mary became one of Oconomowoc’s greatest boosters. She sold the home to her son Clarence who added the ten Ionic columns, reportedly from the 1893 Chicago Columbian Exposition. This was the last major expansion of the home. The gazebo on the shoreline was part of a judging stand for yacht races. In 1923, the mansion was sold to John and Lenore Stevens. They divided the house in 1927 and sold the original southern portion, which was remodeled in 1979. The northern building was later remodeled in 1988. Both houses were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. The two sections of the house were rejoined in 2010.

Oconomowoc's first log cabin was erected on this site in 1837 by Philo Brewer. A few years later, John S. Rockwell and his wife Lavinia purchased the property and lived here together until Lavinia died in 1852. John continued to reside here with his second wife Anna until he died in 1863. The park honors the Rockwell Family for its many contributions to the Oconomowoc community. In his lifetime, Rockwell and his partners financed a grist mill, a dam, and a lumber mill and donated land to numerous churches. In addition, Rockwell gave land for a girls' boarding school and Oconomowoc's cemetery.

This imposing mansion has been called the finest example of French Provincial architecture in the Midwest. It was built in 1928 by Marjorie Ward, the adopted daughter of mail-order mogul A. Montgomery Ward of Chicago. The original cost was $80,000. A northern addition was constructed in 1932 after Marjorie’s marriage to Robert Baker. Knollward then served as a residential care facility from 1961 to 1996. In 1998, the original property was divided into four lots, all of which, including the Marjorie Ward Baker home, are now privately owned.

This Gothic Revival house was once home to Emory A. Clark, a Chicago furniture manufacturer. It was moved to this site from the east shore of Lac La Belle. Many additions have changed its original design. However, unique lancet windows framed by pierced, scroll-cut bargeboards on the gables remain.

This Gothic Victorian mansion was built as a summer home by Peter and Henry Schuttler, Chicago wagon manufacturers. Peter married into the Anheuser-Busch brewing empire. The estate included about 160 acres of forest and farmland. A large flower garden and lawn area once connected the mansion with the north shore of Fowler Lake. In 1988, the mansion was extensively renovated and operated as a thirteen-room bed and breakfast inn. Condominiums now occupy a significant portion of the original grounds. Then called Pine Terrace, the structure was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. The building is once again known by its original name and serves as a bed and breakfast.

Prior to 1851, a portion of this park served as a cemetery. The property changed hands several times before it was purchased in 1864 by James A. Henshall, M.D. On this site in 1868, Henshall developed America’s first private fish hatchery which specialized in propagating black bass. The coach house is all that remains of a once spectacular estate. In 1945, this site was donated to the city as a park by sisters Ida M. Binzel and Anna Binzel Theobald, members of an early Oconomowoc brewing family.

A congregation of Norwegian Lutherans began building this church in 1872, but it was not completed until 1883. According to church records, it was known as Our Savior’s English Lutheran Church from 1883-1953. When the Lutheran congregation built its new church at Lisbon Rd. and Greenland Ave., this building was rented by the Alliance Bible Church until 1978. Abundant Life Church rented the property through June of 1979, later purchased the building, and remained at this site until July of 1996. Currently, Cornerstone Church Lake Country occupies this site. The stained glass windows are original.

This charming Carpenter Gothic cottage belonged to the Townsend House, a grand hotel, which once stood northwest of the Oakwood Avenue Bridge, commonly known as the Norwegian Bridge. The hotel, which burned in 1901, had been a summer destination for Chicago elites and was the scene of many social events of the era. The guesthouse originally had no kitchen since guests took all their meals at the hotel.