Plymouth Downtown and Cheese Counter: A Celebration of History and Heritage
Plymouth’s downtown retains its late 19th-century charm, featuring cream brick buildings and a beautifully restored 1870s mill by the Mullet River. The area offers a glimpse into the past, with a blend of historical landmarks and modern attractions, all reflecting the city’s deep ties to its agricultural roots. One of the most notable sites in Plymouth is the Plymouth Cheese Counter & Dairy Heritage Center, which showcases the city’s significant role in the development of the Wisconsin cheese industry.
The Plymouth Cheese Counter & Dairy Heritage Center
Housed in a historic 1875 building that once served as the office of the Wisconsin Cheese Exchange, the Plymouth Cheese Counter & Dairy Heritage Center is a small but important museum and store. The center celebrates Plymouth’s rich cheese-making heritage, offering visitors the chance to explore antique dairy equipment and learn about how the city earned its reputation as the “Cheese Capital of the World.” The center not only honors the past but also highlights the area’s ongoing contributions to the dairy industry.
In addition to the displays of old dairy tools, the center also features local cheese for sale, allowing visitors to taste a piece of Plymouth’s historic legacy. The Dairy Heritage Center is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in the region’s agricultural past and its lasting impact on the cheese industry.
A Community Rooted in Cheese
Plymouth’s downtown also features a giant painted cheese wheel sculpture, a fun and whimsical tribute to the city’s legacy in the dairy industry. Historical markers throughout the area further explain Plymouth’s role in the development of the first cheese cooperative and the critical importance of the railroad depot to the city’s growth. The first train arrived in Plymouth in 1859, and its arrival was key in transporting dairy products to larger markets, helping to solidify Plymouth’s place in Wisconsin’s cheese-making history.
