Museum of Danish America facts for kids
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| Established | 1983 |
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| Location | Elk Horn, Iowa |
| Type | History Museum |
The Museum of Danish America (which used to be called the Danish Immigrant Museum) is a special museum in Elk Horn, Iowa. Its main goal is to "celebrate Danish roots and American dreams." This means it helps people learn about the history of Danish people who moved to America and what their lives were like.
Contents
History of the Museum
In 1979, two teachers from Dana College had an idea. They wanted to create a museum. This museum would save the history of Danish immigrants. An immigrant is someone who moves from one country to live in another. Their idea was approved!
A year later, a group called the Danish American Heritage Society was asked to help. In 1983, they decided to put the museum in the Danish Villages of Elk Horn and Kimballton, Iowa. The museum officially became a group in May. In July, the Elk Horn Lutheran Church gave 20 acres of land for the museum.
The museum started collecting items for its exhibits. For several years, it operated from a building on Elk Horn's main street. The first shovel of dirt for the current museum building was dug in 1988. However, the museum building did not open to the public until June 1994.
The museum changed its name on October 11, 2013. It went from the Danish Immigrant Museum to the Museum of Danish America. Today, the museum has over 35,000 items in its collection.
Growing Bigger: The Jens Jensen Park
On September 22, 2010, the Danish Villages of Elk Horn and Kimballton, Iowa, joined the Iowa Great Places Program. This program helps special places grow and improve. Part of this plan was to build the Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park. This park is on the museum's land. A farmer named Wayne Alwill left the museum $1.3 million when he passed away in 2008. This money helped create the park.
The Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park was designed in 2011. It was built the next year. Jens Jensen was a Danish immigrant who became a famous landscape architect. The park shows off his life and work. It was designed by his great-great-grandson, also named Jens Jensen. Bill Tishler, a professor, also helped. The park uses native plants from the area. It also has two "council rings." These are special circular seating areas that Jensen often included in his park designs.
In 2013, a special covered walkway with signs was added near the park's entrance. Later that year, nine pieces of outdoor fitness equipment were added. These are along a walking trail in the park. You can use a free mobile app to find the park. The app also shows how to use the equipment. It can even track your activity!
The park also has a paved path called the Friends Walk. It is about 0.6 miles long. This path connects the main museum building to Bedstemor's House.
Museum Exhibits
The main museum building has three levels. Each level has different things to see.
Lower Level Exhibits
The museum's main exhibit is called Across Oceans, Across Time. It starts on the lower level. This exhibit shows what it was like for Danish immigrants and their families. It covers the years from 1840 to 1940.
The lower level also has a special storage area. Many of the museum's items are stored here behind glass walls. This lets visitors see more of the collection. There is also a multimedia room on this level.
Main Level Exhibits
The Across Oceans, Across Time exhibit continues on the main level. This part covers the years from 1940 to today. This level also has the Danish-American Artist Series exhibit. It shows art from a different Danish-American artist every six months. For example, the famous musician Victor Borge was featured.
Besides exhibits, this level has the museum's Wall of Honor. You can also see the first piano owned by Victor Borge. There is a museum gift shop and a fun Lego play area too!
Kramme Gallery: Temporary Exhibits
The Kramme Gallery is on the upper level. This is where the museum shows its temporary exhibits. These exhibits change often. One recent exhibit was about "Weddings in Danish America." Another upcoming exhibit is about "Papirklip," which is a global art of paper cutting.
Other Museum Locations
Genealogy Center
In 1996, the museum's research library opened inside the museum. It was first run by volunteers. A librarian was hired in 2002. The next year, the Genealogy Center opened at its own location. It is on Elk Horn's Main Street.
The Genealogy Center has many books and resources. It also helps people find their family history. They offer translation and research help for a fee. They also hold workshops to teach about genealogy, which is the study of families and their ancestors.
Jens Dixen House
Just north of the museum building is a real homesteader's cabin. It once belonged to a Danish immigrant named Jens Dixen. Jens Dixen settled in North Dakota around 1901. He was a schoolteacher and a preacher. He taught boys from the local area in this small house. When the winter weather was bad, some of his students would even sleep in the small space above the main room!
The Jens Dixen House was moved to the museum property in 1999. It was fixed up by a group called the Cedar Valley Danes. Visitors can go inside the house during the museum's regular hours.
Bedstemor's House
Bedstemor's House is a historic house museum. It is located in Elk Horn, Iowa. This two-story Victorian home was built in 1908. A Danish immigrant named Jens Otto Christiansen built it. He wanted it to be a gift for his engagement. But his marriage proposal was turned down. So, the house was rented out to local families instead. Christiansen sold the house in 1933 for just one dollar!
From 1946 to 1982, a Danish woman named Meta Mortensen lived in the home. In 1982, Mortensen sold the house to a local arts council. The council named the house Bedstemor's House. This means "Grandmother's House" in Danish. They ran it as a house museum for seven years. Bedstemor's House was given to The Danish Immigrant Museum in April 1990. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 16, 1997.
Today, the house museum shows what life was like around 1910. Bedstemor's House is open from 1 PM to 4 PM from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. You can also visit by appointment at other times of the year. There is a three-part video about the house on the museum's website.
