Families coming to Decorah for Luther College Family Weekend will have a full-day museum option at Vesterheim on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, with free admission planned for eligible Luther College students, faculty and staff, as well as Vesterheim members.
Vesterheim is scheduled to be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The hours give visitors time to plan a museum visit around other Family Weekend activities, whether they choose a guided tour, independent exploration or both.
Two tours are planned
The first guided tour is scheduled for 11 a.m. and will focus on Vesterheim’s 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
With the tours set at different times, visitors may be able to attend one or both. Families could start with the Museum Building tour, visit Heritage Park later or explore independently between the scheduled offerings.
Visitors may also explore Vesterheim’s collection, heritage spaces and Vesterheim Commons on their own during Saturday’s operating hours. That allows families 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. It does not automatically extend to every relative or guest accompanying an eligible person.
The 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 relationship with Luther College dating to 1877
The Family Weekend plans reflect Vesterheim’s longstanding connection with Luther College. According to the event information, that relationship 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 if their group includes guests outside the eligible categories.