Families coming to 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, as well as Vesterheim members.
Vesterheim’s museum campus is scheduled to be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day. Visitors may choose a guided tour, explore independently or combine both options while fitting the museum into a full day of Family Weekend activities.
Two Vesterheim tours are planned
The first guided tour is scheduled for 11 a.m. and will focus on the Museum Building. A second tour will begin at 1:30 p.m. and 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 their Family Weekend plans. Guests who prefer to move at their own pace can instead choose a self-guided visit during Vesterheim’s regular Saturday hours.
What visitors can see and who qualifies
Independent visitors can view Vesterheim’s collection, heritage spaces and Vesterheim Commons. Families can 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 choices.
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 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 or staff or Vesterheim members should contact Vesterheim before traveling to Decorah for current admission information and to ask 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 tied to that longstanding relationship, with guided tours and self-guided exploration available throughout the day.