Families coming to Decorah for Luther College Family Weekend will have a full-day museum option at Vesterheim on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. The museum is scheduled to welcome visitors from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with two guided tours planned during the day and time available for guests to explore independently.

Free admission is planned for eligible Luther College students, faculty and staff, as well as Vesterheim members. The available event information does not say that the benefit automatically extends to every relative or guest traveling with someone who qualifies.

Two guided tours are planned

Visitors who want a guided experience can choose between two scheduled tours. The first begins at 11 a.m. in the Museum Building. A second tour is planned for 1:30 p.m. at Heritage Park.

  • 11 a.m.: Museum Building tour
  • 1:30 p.m.: Heritage Park tour

The schedule may allow guests to attend both tours while using the time between them to explore Vesterheim. Visitors who prefer to set their own pace can instead take a self-guided visit.

What visitors should confirm before arriving

Saturday access is scheduled to include Vesterheim’s collection, heritage spaces and Vesterheim Commons. Families can plan the museum visit before or after other Luther College Family Weekend activities in Decorah.

Visitors who are not eligible Luther students, faculty or staff, or Vesterheim members, should contact the museum before arriving. The event information does not provide a separate admission price for those visitors. It also does not state whether additional family members or guests will receive a discount.

As a result, families may need to confirm admission eligibility, pricing for additional guests and tour availability before finalizing their plans. Visitors should also verify that both tours remain available, particularly if their group includes people who do not qualify for free admission.

Vesterheim’s Luther College connection

The Family Weekend plans reflect a longstanding relationship between Vesterheim and Luther College. According to the event information, that connection dates to 1877, when the collection began at the college.

Vesterheim published the plans Aug. 23, 2026, and updated them Aug. 24. Decorah Today’s listing was published Aug. 24 and updated Aug. 25.