Vesterheim offers free admission the second Saturday of every month.

Watch the Live Stream

This month, we’ll live stream the program FamilieTid: Enchanted Echoes – Tales of Nyckelharpa and Näcken with Renee Vaughan on the big screen in Vesterheim Commons at 1:00 p.m. Bring your friends and family to watch this delightful journey into the world of the nyckelharpa and the rich folklore of Swedish folk music. You’ll hear magical stories like the one about Näcken, the mystical shapeshifter known for enchanting musicians and their instruments, sometimes causing the instruments to play on their own!

Renee Vaughan plays traditional Scandinavian music on the nyckelharpa, an instrument that has been around in one form or another for over 700 years. She effortlessly captures the rustic charm and ethereal essence of the Nordic tradition. In 2022 Renee was awarded a prestigious fellowship from the American Scandinavian Foundation to study extensively under master nyckelharpist Cajsa Ekstav. Her recent role as Musician-in-Residence at University of Wisconsin – Madison’s Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Cultures immersed her in the rich tapestry of first-generation immigrant musicians, Swedish music, and folklore.

Take a Tour

From May through October, there will be an indoor tour of the Museum Building at 11:00 a.m. and an outdoor tour of Heritage Park at 2:00 p.m. Come and enjoy the museum!

Special Exhibits

Special exhibits open are listed here. There’s always something new!

Free Second Saturdays are supported in part by a generous gift to the Vesterheim Annual Fund from Kari and Pete Espinosa.