Families visiting Decorah for Luther College Family Weekend will have a museum 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.
Vesterheim’s museum campus is scheduled to be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day. Visitors can choose between guided tours and independent exploration, making it possible to fit a museum visit around other Family Weekend activities.
Two 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 are scheduled at different times, visitors may be able to attend one or both, depending on their Luther College Family Weekend plans. Guests who prefer to explore at their own pace can instead choose a self-guided visit during the regular Saturday hours.
What visitors can see
Independent visitors can view Vesterheim’s collection, heritage spaces and Vesterheim Commons. Guests may select a guided tour, a self-guided visit or a combination of both options.
The schedule gives families several ways to organize the visit: a morning tour of the Museum Building, an afternoon visit to Heritage Park, or independent exploration at any point between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Who qualifies for free admission?
The complimentary-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 an eligible person.
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 planning to attend with guests who are not Luther College students, faculty or staff or Vesterheim members should contact Vesterheim before traveling to Decorah. The museum can provide current admission information and explain whether other arrangements are available.
The event information also 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 tours and self-guided exploration available throughout the day.