Families visiting Decorah for Luther College Family Weekend will have a full-day museum option on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, as Vesterheim plans free admission for eligible Luther College students, faculty and staff, as well as Vesterheim members.
Vesterheim is scheduled to remain open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The hours allow visitors to fit a museum visit around other Family Weekend activities, whether they prefer a guided tour, independent exploration or a combination of both.
Two tours are scheduled
The first guided tour is planned for 11 a.m. and will focus on Vesterheim’s Museum Building. A second tour is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at 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. Families could begin with the Museum Building tour, visit Heritage Park later or spend time exploring independently between the scheduled tours.
Visitors may also explore Vesterheim’s collection, heritage spaces and Vesterheim Commons on their own during the museum’s Saturday operating hours. That gives families flexibility to combine a guided experience with self-guided time.
Who qualifies for free admission?
The free-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. It also does not explain whether additional family or group members qualify for a discount.
Families bringing guests who are not eligible Luther College students, faculty and staff or Vesterheim members should contact Vesterheim before traveling to Decorah. The museum recommends confirming current admission information and asking whether other arrangements are available.
A Luther College connection dating to 1877
The Family Weekend plans reflect Vesterheim’s longstanding relationship with 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. Visitors should confirm admission details and tour availability with the museum before making plans, particularly when their group includes guests outside the eligible categories.