Families coming to Decorah for Luther College Family Weekend will have an additional activity option on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, when Vesterheim plans to offer complimentary admission to eligible Luther College students, faculty and staff, along with Vesterheim members.
The museum campus is scheduled to be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can choose between guided tours, an independent visit or a combination of both while building their Family Weekend schedule.
Two guided tours are planned
Vesterheim’s first guided 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
Because the tours are scheduled at different times, visitors may be able to attend one or both, depending on the rest of their plans. Guests who prefer to explore at their own pace can take a self-guided visit during Vesterheim’s regular Saturday hours.
What visitors can see
Independent visitors can view Vesterheim’s collection, heritage spaces and Vesterheim Commons. Families could begin with the Museum Building tour in the morning, visit Heritage Park in the afternoon, explore independently between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or combine several of those options.
The complimentary-admission offer is limited to the groups identified in Vesterheim’s event information: Luther College students, faculty and staff, and Vesterheim members. The offer does not automatically extend to every relative or guest accompanying someone who qualifies.
Vesterheim’s event information does not list a separate admission price for visitors outside those eligible 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 to Luther College
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 provides a museum visit connected to that longstanding relationship, with guided tours and self-guided exploration available throughout the day.
Vesterheim’s plans were published Aug. 23, 2026, and updated later that day.