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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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.
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...
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. The May bokprat features The Lazarus Solution by Kjell Oda Dahl. Summer, 1943. When a courier for Sweden's Press and Military Office is killed on his final mission,...
Help Vesterheim welcome Luther College families to Decorah! Come and see Vesterheim's collection that began at Luther in 1877. Admission is always free for Luther students, faculty, and staff, and for museum members.Stop by to enjoy the museum! There will be a guided tour of the Museum Building at 11:00 a.m. and a guided tour...
The exhibit of artwork by Tara Austin, Boreal Ornament V, closes on September 22, 2024. Stop by the second floor gallery in Vesterheim Commons to view this free exhibit before it's over! This exhibit features rosemaling with a contemporary painting focus, highlighting the beauty and techniques of this Norwegian decorative tradition infused in a modern...
The Norwegian-American artist, Herbjørn Gausta, has long been a favorite for fans of Vesterheim and Midwesterners of Norwegian ancestry. Last spring we offered two day trips to explore Gausta’s life and art in the actual places he lived, studied, and worked These tours were so popular that we needed to add a third day trip...
For a long time, the only aquavit an American could get was imported from either Denmark, Norway, or Sweden. In the mid 2000s, there was a surge of American distillers who began making the classic Scandinavian spirit for the American market. With this new batch of distillers came a new outlook of how aquavit could be enjoyed. No longer limited to...
Due to illness, this presentation and performance about the "Black Fiddle" with Paul Sveinall and Nina Byttingsmyr has changed. Johannes Risnes of Kristiansand, Norway, will present the history of the Black Fiddle; Dottie Roiseland of Cedar Falls, Iowa, will share how the fiddle came to Iowa; and Eden Ehm of Decorah, Iowa, will play the...