HISTORY OF THE HOMELAND

A pair of reenactors face off during Nordic Fest in Decorah, Iowa.

It may have been 100 years since the Norwegian rush ended in the Midwest, but Vesterheim The main four-story building is built from a hotel that opened in 1877 and the there is a place where you can step inside a grounds also feature a restored stone mill virtual time machine and look back on what those immigrants brought with them. Museum from 1851 and a Lutheran Church and Prairie House that were brought in from

In total, nearly 800,000 Norwegians their original place in North Dakota. came to North America from 1825 to 1925, and the Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, documents The museum features a total of 16 historic buildings. Iowa, is solely dedicated to documenting that trek. The museum occupies a full city block in Decorah and contains 33,000 artifacts, the travels “It’s a huge cultural center and it’s also dedicated to preserving the living heritage of Norwegians in America,” Langston said. “We 11,000 books and 14,000 photographs and documents from the Norwegians who to America kind of tie into the celebration of immigrants from all backgrounds.” moved to the U.S. The museum features a 25-foot sailing Vesterheim means ‘western home’ in Norwegian and the museum shows how the By Rocky Hulne boat called the Tradewind, which famously carried Harald and Hans Harman, who were immigrants made the Midwest their home PHotos PRovided brothers, 10,000 miles from Norway, to away from home. Cuba, to America in 1933.

“Vesterheim is the largest museum in Besides the famous ship, the museum the U.S. dedicated to a single immigrant also offers aspects of day-to-day life during group,” said Charlie Lanston, the Vesterheim director of the immigration movement as visitors can spot tools and early communications and marketing. “For a small town, it’s quite a agriculture machinery. huge gem.” The museum also offers everything an art lover can ask for

Five places to visit near the Vesterheim Museum

§ Dunning’s Spring

Park, Ice Cave Road, Decorah, Iowa, 52101. The wooded park features trails, picnic spots and a 200-foot waterfall.

§ Toppling Goliath

Brewing Co, 1600 Prosperity Rd, Decorah, Iowa. Sit down and have a cold one at the second-best brewery in the world, according to BEERADVOCATE.

§ Winneshiek Wildber-

ry Winery, 1966 337th St., Decorah, Iowa, 52101. The 150-yard old family farm winery offers an exquisite taste of the country.

§ Ice Cave Hill Park in

Winneshiek County, Iowa. The three-acre parcel of land on the edge of Barbara Barnhart VanPeenen Memorial Park in the northern portion of Decorah contains one of the largest glaceries in the Midwest.

§ Palisades Parks, Ice

Cave Road, Decorah, Iowa, 52101. With miles of mountain biking and hiking trails, visitors can catch a glimpse of the scenic overlook of Decorah.

Above, The Vesterhrim Museum in Decorah, Iowa. Left, A tour group learns about the early years of Norwegian settlers.

and the folk art school is quite popular. Students can learn the trades of wood carving, knife making, forging and rosemaling - an iconic form of Norwegian folk art.

“There’s so much to see,” Langston said. “Right now, making things is really big in America. The maker movement in America has people wanting to settle down and make something without a computer screen.”

While the upcoming schedule is still undetermined due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Vesterheim is planning on hosting a Norwegian Folk Art Exhibition from July 3-25.

“Folk artists from all over the nation submit artifacts in weaving, rosemaling, knife making and wood carving,” Langston said. “It’s an avenue in which folk artists today can get recognition and critique. It’s quite popular and many of the items are for sale.”

The museum is open from May 1 to Oct. 31 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Nov. 1-April 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is closed on New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 7-18 and $8 for senior citizens. Admission is free on the first Thursday of every month.

Group rates and specialty tours can be arranged.

Vesterheim draws approximately 13,000 visitors per year from 35 foreign countries.

For more information and updates on the museum, visit www.vesterhiem.org.