Families visiting Decorah for Luther College Family Weekend will have a full-day museum option at Vesterheim on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. The museum plans to offer free admission to eligible Luther College students, faculty and staff, along with Vesterheim members.
Vesterheim is scheduled to be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., giving visitors time to fit a museum visit around other Family Weekend activities. Guests may choose a guided tour, explore independently or combine both options during the day.
Two Vesterheim 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
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 between the two offerings.
During Saturday’s operating hours, visitors may also explore Vesterheim’s collection, heritage spaces and Vesterheim Commons on their own. That provides an opportunity to pair a scheduled tour 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.
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.
Vesterheim’s Luther College connection
The Family Weekend plans reflect a longstanding relationship between Vesterheim and 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.