Families coming to Decorah for Luther College Family Weekend will have a museum option on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, as Vesterheim plans complimentary admission for eligible Luther College students, faculty and staff, as well as Vesterheim members.
Vesterheim’s museum campus is scheduled to be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can choose a guided tour, explore independently or combine the two while fitting a visit into their Family Weekend plans.
Two guided tours are planned
The first tour is scheduled for 11 a.m. and will focus on the Museum Building. A second tour is set for 1:30 p.m. and will highlight Heritage Park.
- 11 a.m.: Museum Building tour
- 1:30 p.m.: Heritage Park tour
With the tours scheduled at different times, visitors may be able to attend one or both, depending on their plans for the day. Guests who prefer to set their own pace can instead take a self-guided visit during Vesterheim’s regular Saturday hours.
What visitors can see at Vesterheim
Independent visitors can view Vesterheim’s collection, heritage spaces and Vesterheim Commons. Families could plan a morning tour of the Museum Building, an afternoon visit to Heritage Park, independent exploration between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., or a combination of those options.
The free-admission offer is limited to the groups identified in Vesterheim’s event information: Luther College students, faculty and staff, and Vesterheim members. It does not automatically apply to every relative or guest accompanying someone who qualifies.
Vesterheim’s event information does not list a separate admission price for visitors outside those groups or explain whether additional family or group members qualify for a discount. Families traveling with guests who are not eligible Luther College students, faculty and staff or Vesterheim members should contact Vesterheim before traveling to Decorah for current admission information and to ask whether other arrangements are available.
A connection dating to 1877
The event information says Vesterheim’s relationship with Luther College dates to 1877, when the collection began at the college. For eligible visitors attending Family Weekend, the Sept. 19 schedule offers a museum visit connected to that longstanding relationship, with guided tours and self-guided exploration available throughout the day.