Museums

Type of Attractions
Museums
We steward America?s culturally diverse and endangered garden and food crop legacy for present and future generations. We educate and connect people through collecting, regenerating, and sharing heirloom seeds, plants, and stories.

Seed Savers Exchange was founded in Missouri in 1975 by Diane Ott Whealy and Kent Whealy. Diane's grandfather entrusted to them the seeds of two garden plants, ‘Grandpa Ott's morning glory and ‘German Pink’ tomato. These seeds, brought by Grandpa Ott's parents from Bavaria when they immigrated to Iowa in the 1870s, became the first two varieties in the collection. Diane and Kent went on to form a network of gardeners interested in preserving heirloom varieties and sharing seeds. Today, with 13,000 members and 20,000 plant varieties, Seed Savers Exchange makes its home on 890 scenic acres in Winneshiek County, Iowa, at Heritage Farm.
Arts + Entertainment, Museums, Shopping
Arts + Entertainment, Museums, Shopping

Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum offers a Museum Store, full of Scandinavian specialty items, including Norwegian sweaters, Scandianvian treats, calendars, games and toys, traditional and modern jewelry, collectibles, cookware, tableware, home decor, Christmas ornaments, hand-crafted art, and more!

The store also includes everything a folk-art enthusiast needs whether you are just getting started or have been working at your art for years. You'll find books and videos on fiber arts, textiles, rosemaling, painting, woodworking, and knifemaking. There are also tools and patterns for woodworking; brushes, paints, and patterns for rosemaling; and beautiful hand-made woodenware ready to decorate.

This store is located at 502 W. Water St., in the museum's Westby-Torgerson Education Center. Feel free to shop anytime, even if you don't plan to tour the museum that day.

Many of Vesterheim's products are available in our online store, so you can shop from anywhere!

Your purchase supports Vesterheim's mission.

Arts + Entertainment, Museums

Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School, welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds to engage in the conversation of the American immigrant journey through the lens of the Norwegian-American experience.

Vesterheim is dedicated to building community and creating experiences by offering innovative and interactive exhibits, classes, publications, and programs at the dynamic campus and park in scenic Decorah, Iowa.

This world-class museum and folk-art school shares the stories of over 33,000 artifacts and 12 historic buildings, showcases astounding historic and contemporary Norwegian and Norwegian-American folk and fine art, and cultivates living traditions.

Receive the latest

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.