Museum Building
Nov. 1 – April 30: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
May 1 – Oct. 31: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Museum Store and Vesterheim Commons
All year: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Heritage Park
Open daily to wander the grounds.
May 1- Oct. 31: Guided tour of Heritage Park – Wed. through Sat., excluding holiday weekends. (Call ahead to confirm.)
Museum and Store are closed New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Adults: $15
Ages 7-18: $8
Seniors 65+: $13
Vesterheim participates in three reciprocal networks, offering members of partner museums and institutions exclusive savings and admission benefits:
• Time Travelers members receive $1 off admission + 10% discount on eligible in-person Museum Store purchases
• NARM and ROAM members enjoy free admission+ 10% discount on eligible in-person Museum Store purchases
Must show valid membership card from qualifying institution.
Vesterheim creates experiences inspired by Norwegian-American stories and folk art and offers innovative and interactive exhibits, classes, and programs, both at the dynamic campus and park in scenic Decorah, Iowa, and online.
Exploring Vesterheim’s Museum Building with its four floors of incredible artifacts is a delight. Wandering at your own speed, you can linger for as long as you wish at your favorite pieces. View Vesterheim’s Visitor Guide here.
Hanson Vesterheim Commons is open daily from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Find out more about this inspiring building.
From May 1- Oct. 31, enjoy a guided tour of the museum’s Heritage Park – scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Wed. through Sat., excluding holiday weekends. (Please call ahead to confirm in case of tour change.) Find out more about Heritage Park.
From American Travel Writer Rick Steves:
With my work writing and updating the fifty or so Rick Steves guidebooks around Europe, I see lots of museums. And what a delight to find one of the most enjoyable museum-going experiences I’ve had anywhere in Decorah, Iowa. Even better, it was about my heritage: Norway! Wherever your family came from, Vesterheim Museum (and all the cultural activities it sponsors) is worth the trip. In a world where so many of us don’t fully appreciate the stories – both hard or happy – of our immigrant forefathers, enjoying the inspiring and entertaining exhibits and rich collection of artifacts at our national Norwegian museum is a treat…and well worth putting on your list. Tusen takk!
Plenty of free, easy street and lot parking in Decorah, IA.
Vesterheim is committed to championing policies and practices that value diversity, foster equity, and promote an accessible and inclusive community. Vesterheim’s staff and board are dedicated to placing diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion at the center of our daily work and strive to create a welcoming environment for all.
Accessibility: All areas of the Museum Building, Westby-Torgerson Education Center, Amdal-Odland Heritage Center, the Commons, and the Bethania Lutheran Church are wheelchair accessible, but some of the historic buildings in the Heritage Park are not. We apologize for any inconvenience. Please let us know if any member of your party requires special accommodation or assistance.
No Firearms, Smoking, or Vaping allowed anywhere on Vesterheim’s Campus.
Service Animals and Pets: Service animals are welcome in all public areas of Vesterheim; pets (including emotional support animals) are not allowed in any buildings.
• Non-service animals are not permitted in museum buildings in accordance with the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act).
• Service animals are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for persons with disabilities.
• Comfort or emotional support animals are not service animals.
Photography: You may take non-flash photos throughout the museum complex for personal, noncommercial use only, and we encourage you to share your favorites on Facebook, Instagram, Yelp, and other social media sites. All flash photography is prohibited and commercial use of images of Vesterheim’s collections or grounds is strictly forbidden without prior written consent. High-quality images of artifacts are available for a fee.
Exhibits at Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School, explore the diversity of American immigration through the lens of the Norwegian-American experience and showcase the best in historic and contemporary Norwegian folk arts. This national treasure features a world-class collection of 33,000 artifacts and a Heritage Park of 12 historic buildings, as well as a Folk Art School in scenic Decorah, Iowa.
But you don’t have to be Norwegian-American to enjoy all the beauty and wonder Vesterheim has to offer. Be inspired, share history, and create art while visiting the exhibits, taking a class at the Folk Art School, and shopping the Museum Store!
Vesterheim is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and has a Platinum rating by Guidestar!