What to See in Oshkosh, United States: Free Audio Guide

Looking for things to do in Oshkosh? This Wisconsin city combines aviation history with distinctive historic architecture. Its museums and churches offer an especially rewarding introduction to Oshkosh, including six places covered by Neywo’s free audio guide for the city.

What to See in Oshkosh

EAA Aviation Museum

The EAA Aviation Museum, also known as the Eagle Hangar, preserves and displays historic and experimental aircraft, along with antiques, classics, and warbirds. More than 200 aircraft are presented indoors and outdoors, offering a broad look at aviation history and innovation.

The museum also includes exhibits and activities throughout the site. Occasional aircraft rides nearby provide another way to experience the world represented by the collection.

Oshkosh Public Museum

The Oshkosh Public Museum is housed in the Edgar and Mary Jewell Sawyer House, giving its collections a distinctive historic setting. The house stands in the Algoma Boulevard Historic District and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1994.

The museum is also the first stop on Neywo’s walking route through Oshkosh’s historic streets, making it a natural place to begin exploring the city’s architectural heritage.

Algoma Boulevard United Methodist Church

Algoma Boulevard United Methodist Church has roots reaching back to 1870, when the congregation was founded. The present building dates from 1890 and was designed by William Waters, a prominent Wisconsin architect.

Its historical importance was formally recognized in 1974, when the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Along with the other churches on this route, it shows how much architectural character is concentrated in central Oshkosh.

Trinity Episcopal Church

Trinity Episcopal Church is Oshkosh’s only Episcopal church. The congregation first met in 1850 and organized as Trinity Episcopal Church in 1854. The present building was constructed in 1887.

Its Richardsonian Romanesque design gives the church a distinctive presence. Trinity was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, joining several other Oshkosh buildings recognized for their architectural and historical significance.

First Presbyterian Church

Built in 1893, First Presbyterian Church is one of Oshkosh’s notable architectural landmarks. It stands at 110 Church Avenue and is distinguished by its Richardsonian Romanesque design, red-brick exterior, and stone trim.

The building’s turrets, chimneys, and towers are arranged irregularly to make it appear as though it had developed over many years, in the manner of Richardson’s early libraries. A manse and office were added in 1905. The church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

First Methodist Church

First Methodist Church on North Main Street began life as the Wagner Opera House. The brick building was started in 1874 in the Italianate style, but a fire damaged the opera house that same year. The Methodist congregation then bought the structure and completed it as a church.

Renovations carried out in 1924 and 1925 gave the building its current Neoclassical appearance. Its street-level storefronts are an unusual feature for a Wisconsin church, combining a place of worship with a practical urban presence along Main Street.

An Oshkosh Self-Guided Walking Tour of Historic Architecture

For travellers interested in what to see in Oshkosh, the city’s historic churches and museum can be explored on foot with Neywo’s “Steeples and Stone: Oshkosh’s Lumber-Baron Streets” walk. The route covers 3.34 kilometres, takes about 73 minutes, and includes five narrated stops:

• Oshkosh Public Museum
• Algoma Boulevard United Methodist Church
• Trinity Episcopal Church
• First Presbyterian Church
• First Methodist Church

The walk is designed around the places themselves, so the architecture becomes the central thread connecting the route. It is a practical option if you are looking for a free walking tour in Oshkosh but prefer to explore independently rather than join a group.

Oshkosh is part of Wisconsin, in the United States. If you are planning a wider trip through the state, nearby destinations include Madison, Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Appleton.

Explore Oshkosh with Neywo

Download Neywo for a free Oshkosh audio guide with six narrated places. The app currently offers one walking tour in the city: a 3.34-kilometre route lasting 73 minutes, with five narrated stops.

Each story plays as you reach the place, at your own pace. There is no group and no schedule, so you can explore the route independently while the app explains the history and architecture around you. Narration is available in 11 languages.