This treasure showcases one of the most extensive collection of Norwegian-American artifacts in the world and highlights the best in historic and contemporary Norwegian folk and fine arts.

Vesterheim’s exhibitions explore the diversity of American immigration through the lens of the Norwegian-American experience, and its classes welcome students to participate in the continual evolution of traditional folk art as it meets new influences.

In 1973, the museum purchased land on Mill Street behind the main building for the future Heritage Park (initially called the Open Air Division).

He changed the focus of the museum to an institution dedicated to the everyday life of a Norwegian-American by combining artifacts already acquired by Luther and adding more.

Curator from 1911 to 1921, Christian Keyser Preus brought the idea of an “Open Air Division” back to Luther College in 1913 after seeing a collection of buildings at a museum called Maihaugen in Lillehammer, Norway.

Maihaugen’s curator, Anders Sandvig, was in charge of collecting and shipping the gifts that would fill five semi-tractor trailers when they reached the United States.

When the artifacts were on the way, Anders wrote to Knut telling of their journey, "May these objects work so that the Norwegian-ness in you will not die too soon and the connection with the homeland will because of this be tighter.

In 1930, Gjerstet bought 6,000 Norwegian-American artifacts known as the P. D. Peterson Collection from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and the museums in Norway made another large gift in 1939.

This annual exhibition is a collection of art work entered by contemporary artists from all over the country who compete for ribbons in five categories - rosemaling, weaving, woodcarving, knifemaking, and metalworking, and earn points toward a Vesterheim Gold Medal.

The Old Stone Mill was built by William Painter, one of Winneshiek County's earliest European settlers, in 1851 and is commonly believed to be the oldest building in Decorah.

Norwegian immigrants Hans and Anna Haugan built the house on a farm southeast of Decorah during the 1860s and lived in it at least until 1880.

Husmann is the name for the Norwegian tenant farmer with leasehold estate somewhat similar to the Swedish torp or the Scottish crofter.

The house used by typical husmann was often a simple log cabin or cottage made of rough hewed lumber.

The Valdres House was built about 1795 on the Moahaugen farm in Heggenes, Øystre Slidre, in Oppland, Norway.

Mikkelson-Skree Blacksmith Shop was located in Houston County, Minnesota, and brought to Vesterheim’s Heritage Park in 1971.