Fjällräven Polar is an annual event developed to show that with the right knowledge, equipment, and support anyone can learn to appreciate nature – even in arctic winter conditions. For several days each year, participants drive their own dog sled across the vast landscapes of northern Scandinavia, experiencing a world completely different from their own....
Dr. Maren Johnson, Luther College’s Associate Professor of Nordic Studies and Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies Director, facilitates a regular bokprat, discussing Scandinavian authors and Scandinavian life. In May, we will discuss Kristin Lavransdatter (Vol. 1 - The Wreath) by Sigrid Undset. The cycle follows the life of Kristin Lavransdatter, a fictitious Norwegian woman living...
Join folk artist and culture-bearer Hege Nilsen for a conversation exploring the traditional handcraft of the Coastal Sámi. From leatherwork, to pewter thread braiding and embroidery, to mica embellishments, you will learn about the folk art still made by this segment of Scandinavia's indigenous people. Hege Nilsen lives and works in Kåfjord, a village in...
Vesterheim offers free admission the second Saturday of every month. From June through October, there will be an indoor tour of the museum’s Main Building at 11:00 a.m. and an outdoor tour of Heritage Park at 1:30 p.m. Come and enjoy the museum! Free Second Saturdays are supported in part by a generous gift to...
Has the growing popularity of natural dyes made you curious about the process? Join textile artist and educator Lesley Darling for a webinar on the history of natural dyes across cultures, ideas to start saving your own dyes, and how you can learn more about the process. Lesley will also talk about how plant based...
This summer, get your family outside to explore Decorah's beautiful parks and experience the joy of reading together! For seven weeks, in seven different parks, enjoy Lise Lunge-Larsen's Seven Ways to Trick a Troll. As you read, your family will learn how the best things about being human (patience, kindness, courage, and quick thinking) are...
Bring your lawn chair and your snacks and refreshments and join us for an evening of traditional Scandinavian folk tunes! Vidar Skrede and Patrik Ahlberg join their Scandinavian fiddle forces together in this Norwegian-Swedish folk music duo – lynx lynx. The variety of strings includes fiddles, Hardanger fiddles, guitars, and even a mandolin. The mix of...
[vc_custom_heading text="Location: Vesterheim Museum Store 502 W. Water St." font_container="tag:h3|text_align:left" use_theme_fonts="yes" el_class="small-heading teal"]Children’s book author Donna Marie Seim is coming to Vesterheim Museum Store to sign her book Troll Forest: A Norwegian Tale! This adventure into an enchanting, magical troll forest set in Norway is beautifully illustrated by Susan Spellman. The main character is a...
This summer, get your family outside to explore Decorah's beautiful parks and experience the joy of reading together! For seven weeks, in seven different parks, enjoy Lise Lunge-Larsen's Seven Ways to Trick a Troll. As you read, your family will learn how the best things about being human (patience, kindness, courage, and quick thinking) are...
In a twist on Vesterheim's monthly bokprat discussions, join us for a discussion of the film Narvik (available on Netflix) with Dr. Maren Anderson Johnson! In April 1940, the eyes of the world are on Narvik, a small town in northern Norway, a source of the iron ore needed for Hitler's war machine. Through two months...