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Swedish American Museum

Swedish American Museum Through its arts, educational programs and permanent collection, the Swedish American Museum interpr

The Swedish American Museum is a nonprofit museum and cultural center for the education, celebration and interpretation of Swedish American history and culture in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Operating as usual

The Brunk Children's Museum of Immigration will be open full days during the first week of April, from 10 am - 4 pm on w...
03/22/2023

The Brunk Children's Museum of Immigration will be open full days during the first week of April, from 10 am - 4 pm on weekdays and 11 am - 4 pm on the weekend.

Join us for Hejsan! Story and Craft next Thursday, Mar. 30, at 2 pm as we read "The Lights that Dance in the Night" by Y...
03/22/2023

Join us for Hejsan! Story and Craft next Thursday, Mar. 30, at 2 pm as we read "The Lights that Dance in the Night" by Yuval Zommer.

This Friday, Mar. 24, the Nordic House is hosting Swedish writer, speaker and political commentator Tove Lifvendahl at 6...
03/21/2023

This Friday, Mar. 24, the Nordic House is hosting Swedish writer, speaker and political commentator Tove Lifvendahl at 6 pm. This event will be in Swedish. Pizza dinner will be served and must be pre-ordered on our website at https://swedishamericanmuseum.org/nordic-house/

Events this Weekend -
03/21/2023
Events this Weekend

Events this Weekend -

As part of Andersonville InSidewalk Sale the Museum is hosting a Tantalizing Treasures Sale. Come find your treasure among things old and new during regular Museum hours. No admission to the sale.

The Museum will be hosting a pop-up cafe on both Saturday, Mar. 25, and Sunday, Mar. 26, from 11 am - 3 pm. Join us Satu...
03/20/2023

The Museum will be hosting a pop-up cafe on both Saturday, Mar. 25, and Sunday, Mar. 26, from 11 am - 3 pm. Join us Saturday for our Waffle day pop-up. Stop by to try the Swedish variant with fresh whipped cream and jam. Sunday's pop-up will also host Knit Club from 1 pm - 2 pm.

Join the Museum for another genealogy session as Seema Kenney discusses understanding the naturalization process in the ...
03/20/2023

Join the Museum for another genealogy session as Seema Kenney discusses understanding the naturalization process in the United States this Saturday, Mar. 25, at 10 am.

There are six ways to become a U.S. citizen. We will review each, concentrating on the court option which produced a paper trail and can help with your family genealogical research. This presentation also covers ways in which citizenship was lost & perhaps regained at a later date.

Seema is an experienced software instructor and a professional genealogist. Her known roots are in New England, England, Germany, and Sweden, with DNA adding The Netherlands. She has a certificate in Genealogical Research from BU, completed ProGen, and is an active member of several societies, including the Swedish Ancestry Research Association (SARA) and part of the New England Regional Conference planning committee.

Cost is free for Swedish American Genealogical Society members; $10 for non-members to participate (use our website at https://swedishamericanmuseum.org/event/genealogy-session-online-23/). Member reservations are appreciated and can be made via email to [email protected] or by calling the Museum at 773.728.8111.

The "Arctic Highways" exhibit is at the Museum until Sunday, April 2, at 4 pm. This exhibit discusses the exploitation o...
03/19/2023

The "Arctic Highways" exhibit is at the Museum until Sunday, April 2, at 4 pm.

This exhibit discusses the exploitation of Indigenous land and how imposed borders of nation-states have erased the natural land borders used by Indigenous peoples. Nine Sami artists and three Indigenous artists from Canada and the United States want to use this exhibit to start a dialogue, raise questions, and establish waypoints between their culture and ours. This exhibit takes us on a journey through an Arctic highway of culture and life, stretching from the past into the future.

More information can be found at https://motesplatsgrano.se/arctic-highways-virtual/.

The Swedish author Maria Bouroncle will be at the Museum today, Mar. 19, at 11 am. An economist by profession, she spent...
03/19/2023

The Swedish author Maria Bouroncle will be at the Museum today, Mar. 19, at 11 am.

An economist by profession, she spent over 25 years in the field of international development before publishing her first novel in 2018. It Came to Me on a Whim has been translated into several languages and is currently used on the Scandinavian Crime Literature course at UCLA. She lives in Washington, DC.

Maria’s book tells the story of her great-aunt who killed her three children at the age of twenty-seven in 1929. Through exhaustive research, she has strived to shed light on what led up to this tragedy, which had been a tightly guarded family secret for over seventy years.

”Maria Bouroncle takes us deep into a story of real-life murder to show us the humanity – even love – behind the crime. A riveting read – haunting, atmospheric, and ultimately, heart-breaking”, writes Manil Suri, author of bestseller The Death of Vishnu and a former contributing opinion writer of the New York Times.

At the event, Maria will also show film director Carl Eneroth’s short documentary ”The Child Murderess in Vesene”, based on her book. It was the winner of ”Best Short Documentary” in London, New Jersey and Miami in 2021.

For more information: www.mariabouroncle.com/home

Join us online for another session of cooking classes on Mar. 28 at 4 pm. We will be making gratin and banana pancakes. ...
03/18/2023

Join us online for another session of cooking classes on Mar. 28 at 4 pm. We will be making gratin and banana pancakes. For this online class, you will receive the recipe in advance. You can then either cook alongside or watch and try later. It is an interactive Zoom, so you will be able to ask questions.

The cost is $10. You can buy tickets on our website at https://swedishamericanmuseum.org/event/cooking-class-online-22/. The Zoom link will be sent out shortly before the class.

Step out into Spring as dancing with Linda and Paul returns To The Museum! Tonight, March 18, from 7:30 pm - 11 pm, join...
03/18/2023

Step out into Spring as dancing with Linda and Paul returns To The Museum! Tonight, March 18, from 7:30 pm - 11 pm, join the fun with mixers and set dances. Twirl around the floor with a waltz, polka, hambo, schottis, polksa or bugg. Whether a seasoned pro or testing the waters, we’ve got you covered with hundreds of tunes to dance the night away.

No partner needed. Cost is $10 and includes some light food, buy tickets on our website at https://swedishamericanmuseum.org/event/scandinavian-dance-night/.

Join us on the last Thursday of each month at 2 pm at the Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration for a Hejsan! Story and...
03/17/2023

Join us on the last Thursday of each month at 2 pm at the Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration for a Hejsan! Story and Craft. All ages are welcome to attend with a caregiver for this free (with admission) program.

If you are looking for a birthday party venue that is unique, fun, interactive, educational and promotes imaginative pla...
03/17/2023

If you are looking for a birthday party venue that is unique, fun, interactive, educational and promotes imaginative play, then the Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration is what you are searching for! Children and adults alike will enjoy exploring everything from Vikings to visionaries. Play in our Swedish farmhouse and pioneer cabin, set sail on a steamship, take a journey to the Moon and much more!

Parties include free admission to guests during the party, 1.5 hours of party time, private use of the classroom adjacent to the Children’s Museum, and a birthday party docent (two for private parties).

Have any questions? Visit our website at https://swedishamericanmuseum.org/birthday-parties/. You may also direct bookings and questions to the Museum at 773-728-8111 or email the Children’s Museum at [email protected].

March's genealogy session will host Seema Kenney as she discusses understanding the naturalization process in the United...
03/16/2023

March's genealogy session will host Seema Kenney as she discusses understanding the naturalization process in the United States next Saturday, Mar. 25, at 10 am.

There are six ways to become a U.S. citizen. We will review each, concentrating on the court option which produced a paper trail and can help with your family genealogical research. This presentation also covers ways in which citizenship was lost & perhaps regained at a later date.

Seema is an experienced software instructor and a professional genealogist. Her known roots are in New England, England, Germany, and Sweden, with DNA adding The Netherlands. She has a certificate in Genealogical Research from BU, completed ProGen, and is an active member of several societies, including the Swedish Ancestry Research Association (SARA) and part of the New England Regional Conference planning committee.

Cost is free for Swedish American Genealogical Society members; $10 for non-members to participate (use our website at https://swedishamericanmuseum.org/event/genealogy-session-online-23/). Member reservations are appreciated and can be made via email to [email protected] or by calling the Museum at 773.728.8111.

Last chance to sign up for Easter crafts -
03/16/2023
Last chance to sign up for Easter crafts

Last chance to sign up for Easter crafts -

What do witches, decorated branches, and Easter have to do with each other? Come learn about and celebrate Swedish Easter traditions at the Swedish American Museum! We will serve a Swedish pancake breakfast while kids can do Easter-themed crafts and activities, including making their own paskris –...

Don't miss out on the fun and pancakes this Saturday, Mar. 18, with our Easter Crafts and Pancakes event, from 9 am - 10...
03/16/2023

Don't miss out on the fun and pancakes this Saturday, Mar. 18, with our Easter Crafts and Pancakes event, from 9 am - 10 am.

We will serve a Swedish pancake breakfast while kids can do Easter-themed crafts and activities, including making their own paskris – colorful, decorated branches that are found all over Sweden around Easter. Guests will also learn about the Swedish tradition of Easter witches, where children dress up as witches on the Thursday before Easter and go door to door asking for treats. After breakfast, we will have an Easter egg hunt and scavenger hunt in our Children’s Museum.

Cost: $15 members (adults and children two and over); $20 non-members (adults and children two and over); $5 children aged 12-24 months; Infants are free.

Prepaid and confirmed tickets are required, and no refunds are available for cancellations within five days of the event. To buy tickets, visit our website at https://swedishamericanmuseum.org/event/easter-crafts-pancakes/

Next weekend, as a part of Andersonville InSidewalk Sale, the Museum is hosting a mini Tantalizing Treasures Sale during...
03/15/2023

Next weekend, as a part of Andersonville InSidewalk Sale, the Museum is hosting a mini Tantalizing Treasures Sale during Museum hours from Friday, Mar. 24 to Sunday, Mar. 26. Come find your treasure among things old and new during regular Museum hours. No admission to the sale.

This Sunday, Mar. 19, at 11 am, the Museum will host  Swedish author Maria Bouroncle.An economist by profession, she spe...
03/15/2023

This Sunday, Mar. 19, at 11 am, the Museum will host Swedish author Maria Bouroncle.

An economist by profession, she spent over 25 years in the field of international development before publishing her first novel in 2018. It Came to Me on a Whim has been translated into several languages and is currently used on the Scandinavian Crime Literature course at UCLA. She lives in Washington, DC.

Maria’s book tells the story of her great-aunt who killed her three children at the age of twenty-seven in 1929. Through exhaustive research, she has strived to shed light on what led up to this tragedy, which had been a tightly guarded family secret for over seventy years.

”Maria Bouroncle takes us deep into a story of real-life murder to show us the humanity – even love – behind the crime. A riveting read – haunting, atmospheric, and ultimately, heart-breaking”, writes Manil Suri, author of bestseller The Death of Vishnu and a former contributing opinion writer of the New York Times.

At the event, Maria will also show film director Carl Eneroth’s short documentary ”The Child Murderess in Vesene”, based on her book. It was the winner of ”Best Short Documentary” in London, New Jersey and Miami in 2021.

For more information: www.mariabouroncle.com/home

Events this Weekend -
03/15/2023
Events this Weekend

Events this Weekend -

What do witches, decorated branches, and Easter have to do with each other? Come learn about and celebrate Swedish Easter traditions at the Swedish American Museum! We will serve a Swedish pancake breakfast while kids can do Easter-themed crafts and activities, including making their own paskris –...

Summer is fast approaching, and the Museum will host two summer camps this year for kids ages 6-12!Our Midsommar Camp wi...
03/14/2023

Summer is fast approaching, and the Museum will host two summer camps this year for kids ages 6-12!

Our Midsommar Camp will take place June 20 – 23; kids will explore the natural world, make their own flower crowns and midsummer crafts, construct a Maypole, learn songs and dances, make and eat Swedish foods, and play games outside during the longest days of the year!

Swedish Sommarläger will take place Aug. 7 – 11. A hands-on camp with a different theme every day! Kids will play Viking games, do traditional arts and crafts, dance, tell stories, become inventors, and explore the outdoors!

For more information or to sign up for camp, visit the Museum website at https://swedishamericanmuseum.org/summer-camp/.

Visit the Nordic House in the South Tower of the Wrigley Building to see the "Sustainable Houses in Cold Climate" exhibi...
03/14/2023

Visit the Nordic House in the South Tower of the Wrigley Building to see the "Sustainable Houses in Cold Climate" exhibit.

The exhibit features twenty-two examples of sustainable houses in Sweden built in 1994-2014. It highlights the wide range of design that is possible when focusing on sustainability in architecture.

The houses are presented through a series of photographs, descriptions and comments from their architects. Adaptive re-use, passive energy concepts and traditional building methods are just a few of the ideas these designs explore in their attempt to preserve natural resources and contribute to long-term ecological balance.

Step out into Spring as dancing with Linda and Paul returns To The Museum! On March 18, from 7:30 pm - 11 pm, join the f...
03/13/2023

Step out into Spring as dancing with Linda and Paul returns To The Museum! On March 18, from 7:30 pm - 11 pm, join the fun with mixers and set dances. Twirl around the floor with a waltz, polka, hambo, schottis, polksa or bugg. Whether a seasoned pro or testing the waters, we’ve got you covered with hundreds of tunes to dance the night away.

No partner needed. Cost is $10 and includes some light food, buy tickets on our website at https://swedishamericanmuseum.org/event/scandinavian-dance-night/.

The Swedish American Museum is your passport to teaching about immigration, Chicago history, or Swedish culture in new, ...
03/13/2023

The Swedish American Museum is your passport to teaching about immigration, Chicago history, or Swedish culture in new, exciting ways! Guided tours and activities are available to all groups ages PreK through high school.

Our most popular school tour explores the 19th century immigration experience through an interactive, imaginative tour of our Children’s Museum. For children in PreK through first grade, this tour is accompanied by a craft and activity related to Swedish culture or immigration, and for students in 2nd grade and up, it includes a guided tour of our regular exhibit that focuses on push and pull factors, ship travel and Ellis Island, the Homestead Act, Chicago immigration history, and Swedish American culture.

We are happy to discuss tailoring our tour to the educational needs of your class. Self-guided tours of the Swedish American Museum are also available but must be scheduled through the education department.

Please note that as of February 2022, our Children’s Museum is fully open but our Dream of America exhibit (typically included in tours for 2nd graders and up) is currently closed for renovations until Fall 2023. In lieu of the regular exhibit, we offer a smaller version of the exhibit with many of the same artifacts, combined with relevant activities and tours of our interactive Children’s Museum.

For more information or to book a field trip, visit our website at https://swedishamericanmuseum.org/field-trips/

Join us this Saturday, March 18, from 9 am - 10 am, for a morning of Swedish Easter crafts and pancakes. We will serve a...
03/12/2023

Join us this Saturday, March 18, from 9 am - 10 am, for a morning of Swedish Easter crafts and pancakes.

We will serve a Swedish pancake breakfast while kids can do Easter-themed crafts and activities, including making their own paskris – colorful, decorated branches that are found all over Sweden around Easter. Guests will also learn about the Swedish tradition of Easter witches, where children dress up as witches on the Thursday before Easter and go door to door asking for treats. After breakfast, we will have an Easter egg hunt and scavenger hunt in our Children’s Museum.

Cost: $15 members (adults and children two and over); $20 non-members (adults and children two and over); $5 children aged 12-24 months; Infants are free.

Prepaid and confirmed tickets are required, and no refunds are available for cancellations within five days of the event. To buy tickets, visit our website at https://swedishamericanmuseum.org/event/easter-crafts-pancakes/

The Museum is hosting a pop-up café today, Sunday, Mar. 12, from 11 am - 3 pm, in honor of Mazarin Day. The Mazarin is a...
03/12/2023

The Museum is hosting a pop-up café today, Sunday, Mar. 12, from 11 am - 3 pm, in honor of Mazarin Day. The Mazarin is an almond-filled pastry that is a classic on the Swedish fika table. We will also serve other Swedish treats and sandwiches.

Address

5211 N Clark Street
Chicago, IL
60640

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 11am - 4pm
Sunday 11am - 4pm

Telephone

(773) 728-8111

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Comments

Does anyone recognize the group in this early 1900s Chicago outing, which includes my Swedish grandmother? She belonged to what I think she called Freya Lodge. The banner might say "Scandinavian Temperance" or "Scandinavian Templar Lodge"? She died when I was 11, before I knew about these photos from her early days in the US. Tack så mycket!
Come dance with us on April 30th and help us celebrate the Year of Chicago Dance and the end of Andersonville in Bloom month! Thank you to our event partners and sponsors: Chicago Dance Supply, Swedish American Museum, Edgewater Historical Society, and State Representative Kelly Cassidy. More information being released throughout the month! Check the event page for more details.
Celebrate with our partners at the Swedish American Museum on their opening of their new exhibit, "New Nordic Cuisine"!
Our 25th Annual Chicago EU Film Festival is in the books! We had a wonderful time presenting 19 new films representing 20 EU nations. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped spread the word about this amazingly celebration of EU cinema!

A special thank you to the generosity of our festival sponsor: the European Union Center at the University of Illinois; our media sponsors: Chicago Reader, The Bulletin, and Chicago Life Magazine. And a big thanks to our festival partners: Alliance Française de Chicago, Akasuba, Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, American Club of Chicago, Instituto Cervantes Chicago, Chicago Sister Cities International, Cinema Femme, DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, Consulate General of France in Chicago, EuroCircle, EXPO CHICAGO, Goethe-Institut Chicago, (Magyar) Club of Chicago, American Heritage Center, IA Literati Italian Cultural Center Chicago, Polish American Association, Rotary Club of Chicago, and the Swedish American Museum!

We couldn't have done it without all of you!
Have a chance to watch the movie and meet the director thanks to the Swedish American Museum!

Älven min Vän is a portrait of the lives of four Sami women and their relationship to the Lule River in Sweden. The film shows the consequences of the forced resettlement of Sami people who were displaced from their land because of the construction of river dams and were alienated from their indigenous culture and way of life (such as reindeer husbandry, clothing, language, food and music). At the same time, the film shows the deep relationship between the women and the river.

Watch the movie in your own time or together on Thursday at noon and then join in the discussion with director Hannah Ambühl after about 50 minutes.
Swedish American Museum & Consulate General of Sweden Chicago (T2 near Gate F3), which covered their tree with mini flag garlands, and hand carved and painted wood ornaments include girls and boys in traditional Swedish costume, Dala horse, Viking and Tomten (Sweden’s “Father Christmas” gnome)
Visit our friends Swedish American Museum and get your very own Tomtenisse this holiday!
It's St. Lucia Day! 🕯️ The holiday, popular in Sweden, is one of the traditional Swedish events celebrated in Andersonville, a neighborhood that was first settled as a Swedish farming community in the late 19th century. Andersonville honors its Swedish roots to this day while proudly hosting a vibrant and diverse community of many cultures.

Tonight, the Swedish American Museum celebrates the Festival of Light with a candlelit procession at 5pm beginning at the museum. A choir of children will perform "The Lucia Song" at 5:30pm where Swedish holiday treats, including traditional “pepparkakor” ginger snaps, will be served.

Learn more about this eclectic neighborhood: https://bit.ly/3IIT6Kb

Many thanks to all companies for sponsoring our upcoming Lucia Luncheon 2021 at The Drake Hotel on December 10! We look forward to celebrating this special Swedish holiday tradition with you.

Would you like to join this significant group of sponsors and promote your own company at this festive event?

Sponsors and donors receive prominent recognition during the event, in our Lucia mailings, newsletters, social media and on our website. Proceeds from the Lucia Luncheon make it possible for our chamber to organize a broader array of business and social events throughout the year.

To read more about our sponsorship packages, click here: https://conta.cc/30L41SA

Thorelli & Associates J.S. Richter Ltd. MichaelSilver YER USA Center for Scandinavian Studies, North Park University Chicago Importing Co. The Drake Hotel Learn Swedish Now Swedish American Museum Orrefors Swedish Hospital
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