Ongoing Exhibitions

Ongoing exhibitions in Vesterheim's Open Air Division are open from May 1 to October 31. Check here for information about the buildings.

Ongoing exhibitions in Vesterheim's main building include home life in 19th-century Norway, a 25-foot wooden sailboat Tradewind, an immigrant log house from 1853, and thousands of examples of Norwegian and Norwegian-American materials. You will enjoy displays of folk art that range from centuries-old woodcarving to beautiful contemporary rosemaling (decorative painting). Learn about Norwegian traditions and follow the immigrant story to see how Norwegian-Americans maintained their heritage in their vesterheim, their “western home.”

Museum's Main Building

First Floor

The Home in Norway
  • Early home furnishings
  • Folk costumes
  • Cooking equipment
  • Replica of a Norwegian home
The Atlantic Crossing
  • Sailboat, Tradewind
  • Norwegian fishing boat, Nordland
  • Altar from the Norwegian Seamen’s Church in Brooklyn, NY
  • Paintings

Second Floor

The Home in America
  • Home furnishings
  • Quilts and clothing
  • Log home, Selland House
Wood and Its Decoration
  • Chip carving, acanthus carving, dragon-style carving, kolrosing, burnt decoration, and much more
Rosemaling (decorative painting)
Historical and contemporary silver, glass, and ceramics
  • Silver from Norway
  • Bridal crowns

Third Floor

Anna Hong Gallery: Temporary Exhibitions–See exhibition calendar for current information
Textiles
  • Textiles by Norwegians and Norwegian Americans
  • Tools for textile production, including looms and spinning wheels
Open Storage of Small Objects
  • Norwegian folk arts, household objects, toys, historic rifles

Basement

Norwegians and Norwegian-Americans in Armed Conflict
  • Norwegians in the Civil War
  • 99th Infantry Battalion and O.S.S. NORSO Group
Church Gallery
  • Including the carved altar of Lars Christenson and an altar painting by Herbjørn Gausta
Immigrant at Leisure
  • Children’s toys
  • Sleds and skis
  • Musical instruments
  • Pipes and snuff boxes
The Norwegian-American Press
  • Printing press and linotype machine
  • Han Ola and Han Per comic strip