Families coming to Decorah for Luther College Family Weekend 2026 will have a free museum option on Saturday, Sept. 19, when Vesterheim opens its campus for eligible visitors. The museum will welcome Luther College students, faculty and staff, along with Vesterheim members, without an admission charge during the event.
Vesterheim will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., giving families much of the day to explore the museum and its campus. Visitors can tour the collection, spend time in heritage spaces, visit Vesterheim Commons and choose between two scheduled guided tours.
Two guided tours are planned
The first guided option, a Museum Building tour, begins at 11 a.m. The second, a Heritage Park tour, is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Each tour focuses on a different part of the Vesterheim campus, allowing families to choose either a late-morning activity or an afternoon stop.
Guests may pair one of the guided tours with independent time in the museum. The 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule also leaves room for families to fit Vesterheim into a broader Luther Family Weekend itinerary, including other campus or community plans before or after their museum visit.
Who qualifies for free admission?
The free-admission offer is specifically available to Luther College students, faculty and staff, as well as Vesterheim museum members. Visitors who do not belong to one of those groups should confirm admission details with Vesterheim before making plans.
That eligibility point may be especially important for families traveling together. While a Luther-connected visitor or museum member qualifies under the event information, the supplied details do not state that every member of a visiting party receives free admission automatically. Checking with the museum in advance can help non-eligible guests plan for the visit.
The event is designed for people participating in Family Weekend activities in the Decorah community. For eligible guests, it offers a way to add a museum and heritage experience to a campus-area visit while preserving flexibility for the rest of the day.
A shared history between Vesterheim and Luther
Vesterheim’s Family Weekend offering also highlights the institution’s connection with Luther College. According to the event information, the collection began at Luther in 1877, providing historical background for visitors interested in the relationship between the college and the Decorah museum.
Families planning a visit can choose the 11 a.m. Museum Building tour, the 1:30 p.m. Heritage Park tour or independent museum time during the 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. opening. People outside the listed eligible groups should contact Vesterheim for current admission information before attending.