Norskedalen facts for kids

Norskedalen Nature and Heritage Center is a special place that helps protect and share the natural beauty and history of the Coulee Region. It's located near Coon Valley in Wisconsin, United States. This center is all about teaching people about the environment and the cultural heritage of the area.

A Look Back: Norskedalen's Story

Norskedalen started in 1977. It began when Alf and Carroll Gundersen gave 112 acres of land to the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse Foundation. They wanted it to be an outdoor learning space and a place to grow different kinds of trees and plants, called an arboretum.

Since then, Norskedalen has grown a lot! It now covers over 440 acres. You can explore more than 9 miles of trails there. The center also has old log buildings that were moved there. These buildings belonged to Norwegian immigrants from the late 1800s. There are also museums with exhibits that show the natural and cultural history of the area.

Exploring Norskedalen's Sites

Norskedalen has two main locations you can visit.

The Main Center

The main site is about three miles (5 km) north of Coon Valley, Wisconsin. It's open all year round. This large area covers 398 acres. Here, you'll find several interesting spots:

• The Bekkum Homestead: This is like stepping back in time! It's a re-creation of a typical pioneer farm from around 1900. The buildings are filled with old tools and items from that time. You can take a guided tour from May through October.
• The Thrune Visitor center: This building has displays that show items from pioneers and Norwegian immigrants.
• The Helga Gundersen Arboretum: This is where you can see many different plants and trees. It also has a cool bronze sculpture called Zerogee II by an artist named Paul Granlund.
• The Paulsen Rental Cabin: A place visitors can rent.

The Heritage Farm

The other site is called the Norskedalen Heritage Site. It used to be known as the Skumsrud Heritage Farm. This site is about half a mile (1/2 km) west of Coon Valley, Wisconsin. It's an outdoor museum that's open during certain seasons.

This farm has more than 11 historic buildings! One of the most important is the 1853 Skumsrud Cabin. It's so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You can also see the Erickson School, which was the very first schoolhouse in the area. Each building shows a slightly different way people built things back then.

Discovering Nature at Norskedalen

Norskedalen's 440 acres are full of amazing natural landscapes that change with the seasons.

The Helga Gundersen Arboretum

The Helga Gundersen Arboretum is a big part of Norskedalen's natural beauty. It was started in 1960 by Dr. Alf Gundersen and his wife, Carroll. They wanted to make the land even more beautiful and give something special back to the community.

The arboretum has many different kinds of natural areas, called ecosystems. These include wet areas (wetlands), grassy fields (prairies), and forests (woodlands). You can see native plants and lots of wildlife here. There's also the Gundersen Spring, a natural water source. A special trail makes it easy for everyone to enjoy the natural beauty, even if they use a wheelchair.

Nature Trails

Norskedalen has several nature trails for you to explore. Some of the trails you can walk on include:

• The Troll Trail
• The Pine Loop Trail
• The Ophus Farm Trail

These trails are different lengths, from half a mile to one and a half miles. In 2022, Norskedalen planned to open three new trails: the Strywald Trail, the Prairie Meadow Trail, and the Forest Ridge Trail.

Fun Programs and Activities

Norskedalen offers many different programs for people of all ages.

Nature Programs

These programs teach you about the environment. They have special activities for groups like 4-H and the Boy and Girl Scouts. There are also programs for adults, like how to bring nature into your home or how to help pollinators like bees in your yard.

History Programs

• Civil War Series: This program teaches students about the Civil War. It shares stories and information from people who lived during that time, showing different viewpoints of the conflict.
• Letters from Anne: This program lets students imagine what life was like in the 1860s. You learn through the eyes of Anne Engum, who was a teenager living in Coon Valley, Wisconsin, back then.

Heritage Classes

You can also take classes to learn old folk art and skills. These include things like:

• Genealogy (learning about your family history)
• Wood carving
• Needle work
• Baking

These classes can be one-day courses or workshops that last several days.

The Jennifer Lee Marker Library

The [Jennifer Lee Marker Library] was created in 1982. George and Connie Marker supported its creation in memory of their daughter. The library is inside the Thrune Visitors' Center. It has many books and resources about the natural history and the different cultures of the area.

See also

• List of botanical gardens and arboretums in Wisconsin

More Information

• Wisconsin Department of Tourism
• Savor Wisconsin.com