Families visiting Decorah for Luther College Family Weekend will have another activity option on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, when Vesterheim plans to offer complimentary admission to eligible Luther College students, faculty and staff, as well as Vesterheim members.
The museum campus is scheduled to be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can plan a guided tour, explore independently or combine both options while arranging their Family Weekend schedule.
Two guided tours are scheduled
Vesterheim has planned two guided tours during the day. The first begins at 11 a.m. and focuses on the Museum Building. The second starts at 1:30 p.m. and highlights Heritage Park.
- 11 a.m.: Museum Building tour
- 1:30 p.m.: Heritage Park tour
Because the tours take place at different times, visitors may be able to attend one or both, depending on their other Family Weekend plans. Guests who prefer to set their own pace can instead take a self-guided visit during the museum’s regular Saturday hours.
What visitors can explore
Independent visitors can view Vesterheim’s collection, heritage spaces and Vesterheim Commons. Families could start with the Museum Building tour in the morning, visit Heritage Park in the afternoon, explore on their own between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or combine several of those choices.
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 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. It also does not 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 longstanding Luther College connection
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 tied 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 Aug. 24, 2026. Visitors should confirm admission details and tour availability with the museum before making plans, particularly if their group includes guests outside the eligible categories.