Leading with Our Hearts Exhibit Opens

It is our hope that this exhibition encourages your own artistic curiosity. We aim to lead with our hearts to promote inclusiveness, artistic creativity, and a greater understanding of our shared humanity.  – Wendy Savage and Alison Aune Leading with Our Hearts: Nordic, Sami, and Ojibwe Designs from Nature exhibit opens on August 31, 2024, at...

Leading with Our Hearts Exhibit Opening Event

Join some of the artists from the exhibit Leading with Our Hearts: Nordic, Sámi, and Ojibwe Designs from Nature for a gallery opening presentation! Artists presenting at the opening are Alison Aune (Duluth, Minnesota), Laurel Sanders (Duluth, Minnesota), Wendy Savage (Duluth, Minnesota), and Marlene Wisuri (Duluth, Minnesota). Other artists included in the exhibit are Chi...

The Power of Silver: Traditional Norwegian Jewelry

For centuries, Norwegians have treasured the beauty of silver. Silver showed the prosperity of a family, and, according to folk belief, could cure sickness in humans and livestock, improve crops, and protect against storms and evil spirits. Brooches were more than simple shirt fasteners. This program (with slides) describes different styles of silver brooches, jewelry,...

Concert by My Favorite Folk

Vesterheim presents this concert with My Favorite Folk! If joining in person, no need to pre-register. If joining the live stream, register for a link here. Following four transatlantic tours with the acclaimed Swedish quintet Jaerv, American duo The OK Factor’s cellist Olivia Diercks and violinist Karla Colahan announce an exciting new collaboration. Teaming up...

Innovators & Inventors Presentation

Vesterheim’s exhibition, “Innovators & Inventors,” shares the stories of problem solvers and creative thinkers in the Norwegian-American community and highlights the many inventions. There are several “firsts” featured, like the outboard motor, gasoline pump, wearable pacemaker, airport jetway, and pizza delivery bag. There are also examples of how existing ideas and products were improved and...

Foot-Notes Dance in Vesterheim Commons

Vesterheim hosts a Foot-Notes dance on September 13 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. on the new Commons patio. Rain location will be inside the Commons. The Museum Building will be open that day from 9:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m. and the Museum Store will be open from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and 7:00-9:00 p.m. You’re in for a treat with...

Event Series Free Second Saturday

Free Second Saturday

Vesterheim offers free admission the second Saturday of every month. Come and enjoy the museum! From May 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! Special exhibits open are listed here. There's...

Heroes of Telemark Presentation and Documentary

Decorah's Sons of Norway Valdres Lodge invites everyone to meet Mitch Utterback and view a documentary Hardangerfolk by Scotica Film and SOE Expeditions about the WWII Heroes of Telemark. Mitch Utterback embarked on a ski expedition in February 2023 that commemorated an important moment in World War II history. His expedition followed the path of Norwegian commandos who...

FamilieTid: Norwegian Folk Stories

Join celebrated Norwegian storyteller Johan Einar Bjerkem to hear folktales and sing some songs from Norway – we will meet trolls, princesses, and maybe even the character Askeladden! Bjerkem will also share the history about the stories and tales he tells. Registration for this free class is required. Sign up here.

Barnetimen Children’s Hour – September

Vesterheim welcomes preschoolers and their caregivers to Barnetimen Children’s Hour. Meet in the lobby of the museum’s Main Building to explore objects and stories in the museum’s collection and make fun art. September’s program will focus on the kaleidoscope-like art of Tara Austin. We’ll visit Austin’s exhibit, Boreal Ornament V, and look at the symmetrical...