Note: Vesterheim’s Ship Gallery in the Main Building will be closed from roughly October 2-15 for maintenance. The rest of the building will be open as usual.
Main Building and Vesterheim Commons
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
All year: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Museum and Store are closed New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Adults: $12
Ages 7-18: $5
Seniors 65+: $10
Vesterheim is part of two reciprocal networks, the Time Travelers Program and NARM. Members of museums participating in Time Travelers receive $1 off Vesterheim admission, and members of museums within the NARM network receive free admission. Members of both receive 10% off in the Museum Store.
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.
Exploring Vesterheim’s Main 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.
From May 1- Oct. 31, enjoy a guided tour of the museum’s Heritage Park – scheduled daily at 1:30 p.m. (Please call ahead to confirm in case of tour change.) Find out more about Heritage Park here.
Plenty of free, easy street and lot parking nearby.
Accessibility: All areas of the Main Building, Westby-Torgerson Education Center, Amdal-Odland Heritage Center, 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.
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!