Museums Iowa Culture
Decorah

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Luther College Ethnographic and Archaeological Collections

Decorah, Iowa

Anthropology, Archaeology, Culture, History, Library, University

Luther College is the home of five distinct collections which provide students and faculty with access to original materials for instructional and research purposes. Together, the Luther College Archives, Anthropology Collections, Fine Arts Collection, Geology Collection, and the Hoslett Museum of Natural History contain well over a million items, ranging from rare eggs to fine art, ancient fossils to arrowheads, and insects to college memorabilia. The collections' supervisors work closely with the college's Museum Studies Program to provide on-site study, work, and research experiences.

Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum

Decorah, Iowa

Children's, Culture, General, History

With over 24,000 artifacts and 16 historic buildings, this national treasure showcases the best in historic and contemporary Norwegian folk and fine arts, and explores the American immigrant experience. "USA Today" named Vesterheim one of “ten great places in the nation to admire American folk art.” Come for our folk-art classes, holiday festivals, special group tours, or any time. Open all year (closed on Mondays from November through April).

Luther College Fine Arts Collection

Decorah, Iowa

Art, Culture, Library, University

The Luther College Fine Arts Collection presents fine art works to students and the larger community. While many of the artists represented in the Collection originated from the upper midwest, exemplified by College Artist Orville Running, most notable works were created by artists outside that area. Collection concentrations include works by California potter Marguerite Wildenhain; German Expressionist Gerhard Marcks, and New York artist Frans Wildenhain. Norwegian-American art, principally represented by the artist Herbj?rn Gausta, pre-Columbian pottery; and Inuit sculptures are also prominent elements of the Fine Arts Collection.