National Historic Cheesemaking Center Museum

What You See

The centerpiece is the Imobersteg Farmstead Cheese Factory, a century-old one-kettle factory moved to the site and restored. On event days, retired cheesemakers and Master Cheesemakers fire it up and make a 90-pound wheel of Swiss cheese with the 100-year-old equipment. Inside the museum, storyboards tell the history of cheesemaking in Green County from the late 1800s, and a Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin film shows how cheese is made today.

Retired cheesemakers often act as guides, and their stories about the old factories are the best part of a visit. Admission includes a gift bag with Green County visitor information. The Milk House Gift Shop sells souvenirs.

Planning Your Visit

The building doubles as the Green County Welcome Center, so it is a good first stop for maps of the county's cheese factories and shops. To book a group tour, call the director on 608-293-2396. The general number is (608) 325-4636.

Getting There

The museum is on Monroe's south side where Highway 69 South meets 21st Street. Monroe is about an hour south-west of Madison by car.

Nearby

Across town, the Alp and Dell store has a viewing hall onto the Emmi Roth cheese plant. In even-numbered years the town square fills for Green County Cheese Days in September.