Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum

  Three floors and a basement are chock-full of of artifacts and Norwegian crafts. Many of the items were donated by the families of the early immigrants who settled in Decatur, Iowa because the hills and forests in the area reminded them of Norway. An additional twenty three crates of items were donated by the Norwegian government in 1925 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Norwegian emigration. The museum houses an amazing number of beautiful artifacts.

 The museum covers the history of the migration and making a home in America. There’s even a complete log cabin that was built using one tree. Other galleries include special exhibits, crafts, church history, and open storage. Twelve historic buildings are located on the grounds and open for tours at 1:30 p.m. We walked the paths and read the informative signs but did not tour the buildings.

The museum is accessible. The replica of a Norwegian home has a high threshold. The paths in the historic buildings village are paved and smooth. Most of the buildings have steps at the entrance.

Parking for cars and RVs is on the street. Museum  43.30423, -91.79184