VESTERHEIM NORWEGIAN-AMERICAN MUSEUM

The 'Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum' in Decorah, Iowa is the oldest and most comprehensive museum in the United States devoted to a single immigrant ethnic group. The collection contains over 24,000 artifacts reflecting the experience of Norwegian-Americans, particularly in the Upper Midwest. Sixteen buildings compose the museum's compound, including a restored stone mill, a Norwegian Lutheran church, and several prairie houses. The name ''Vesterheim'' appropriately comes from the Norwegian for "western home". It began in 1877 as a part of nearby Luther College.
The museum sponsors educational events, publications, and lectures related to its mission. It offers classes in traditional cooking, arts and crafts. Each year it sponsors national juried exhibitions in these traditional Norwegian folk arts: rosemaling, weaving, wood carving, and knife-making.

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External links

External links

★ Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum website

★ Educational field trip guide for the museum