Museum of Danish America

Museum of Danish America Celebrating Danish roots and American dreams! National museum, nationally accredited. (Also known as The Danish Immigrant Museum.)
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The Museum of Danish America includes the main museum, the 30-acre Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park, a Genealogy Center on Main Street, the Jens Dixen homesteader's cabin, and Bedstemor's House - a historic house museum in Elk Horn. The Museum of Danish America is the only national museum dedicated to preserving and promoting Danish culture in America. The museum cares for a collection of over 3

0,000 artifacts, photographs, and archival materials that document the experience of Danish immigrants and their descendants, and the ongoing expression of Danish-American cultural identity. Since 1994 the museum has welcomed visitors to its facility in Elk Horn, Iowa, while also engaging in an active national outreach effort that brings the museum to communities from Washington, DC, to Los Angeles, California.

Viking, Viking, where are you? 🛡We're building a shield wall, and we need you!This June 6th and 7th, students in grades ...
05/30/2026

Viking, Viking, where are you? 🛡

We're building a shield wall, and we need you!

This June 6th and 7th, students in grades 4–8 are invited to join us at the Museum of Danish America for Viking Camp! This camp invites young warriors to step out of the modern world and into the thrill, grit, and heart of the Viking Age with The Skjaldborg Vikings. Will you join us in the Great Hall?

Register at the link in our comments.

The Museum of Danish America was deeply honored to welcome Ambassador of Denmark to the United States Jesper Møller Søre...
05/29/2026

The Museum of Danish America was deeply honored to welcome Ambassador of Denmark to the United States Jesper Møller Sørensen during this year’s Tivoli Fest celebrations.

At the Museum, the Ambassador gathered with community members and partner organizations united by a shared commitment to preserving and celebrating Scandinavian heritage. Guests enjoyed a private tour of our Vikingmania! exhibition and had the opportunity to meet Fjord Færgemand, the Museum's Thomas Dambo troll.

The Ambassador served as an honorary grand marshal of the parade, recognized Stacie Larsen’s dedication to preserving Danish folk dancing traditions, and delivered a moving speech commemorating the Danish Windmill's 50th anniversary in the United States. His presence helped reinforce something we feel strongly here in the Danish Villages: Danish culture, friendship, and connection in America are alive and well.

Visits like this provide opportunities to strengthen the relationships between our organizations, communities, and countries. Though we may work separately in different regions of the United States and around the world, we remain connected through a shared respect for history, culture, and heritage. The joy of learning from one another, collaborating, and continuing these traditions together is something we do not take for granted. As our friends The Skjaldborg Vikings often say: Many shields, one family.

Thank you, Ambassador Møller Sørensen, for your continued friendship, your thoughtful leadership, and your commitment to building meaningful cultural connections between Denmark and Danish-American communities across the United States. The Museum of Danish America is always honored to welcome you.

The Museum of Danish America would like to recognize the following individuals and organizations for their assistance in welcoming the ambassador:
Tivoli Fest Royalty Mike and Lou Howard
Fidelma McGinn, President of Scan Design Foundation
Lynette Rasmussen, Honorary Consul of Denmark for Iowa
Katrina Riggs, President of Danish Sisterhood Ellen Lodge #21
Lisa Steen Riggs, Vice President of Rebild National Park Society
Rachelle Keck, President of Grand View University
John D. Jespersen, Honorary Consul of Denmark for Kansas and Missouri
Scan Design Foundation intern Anders Tornsø Jørgensen
Danish Windmill

05/21/2026

Fjord Færgemand troll merchandise is now available in-store and online—just in time for Tivoli Fest!

Visit our Design Store for magnets, stickers, keychains, hoodies, t-shirts, books, and more! Shop at the link in the comments!

We’re taking the longest, most leisurely stroll down memory lane with photos from Tivoli Fests of years past.Every Memor...
05/20/2026

We’re taking the longest, most leisurely stroll down memory lane with photos from Tivoli Fests of years past.

Every Memorial Day weekend, the Danish Villages come alive with visitors eager to experience a little bit of Denmark in rural Iowa. Over the decades, we’ve shared so many unforgettable moments together—from ringridning and exhibition tours to book signings, live music, and delicious Danish food.

With each passing year, Tivoli Fest continues to grow, blending new traditions with the beloved customs that have made the celebration so special for generations. We’re proud of the Danish Villages and of the community members, volunteers, and organizations who work so hard to celebrate, preserve, and share our Danish heritage with future generations.

As we look back on these memories, we’d love to hear yours too. What’s your favorite Tivoli Fest memory? And what are you most looking forward to this year?

The Vikings are coming… and today is your final chance to join the raid! ⚔️Join the Museum of Danish America on Thursday...
05/14/2026

The Vikings are coming… and today is your final chance to join the raid! ⚔️

Join the Museum of Danish America on Thursday, May 21, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. for the formal opening of Vikingmania! — an exciting new exhibition exploring the world’s endless fascination with Vikings!

Enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres, a special gallery talk by Adam Bierstedt, MoDA's Albert Ravenholt Curator of Danish-American Culture, and an exclusive look at the exhibition!

This members-only evening is one you won’t want to miss! Registration closes TODAY, May 14! Register at the link in our comments.

Vikingmania! is presented by Viking Aggregates.

We’ve officially welcomed Thomas Dambo's Fjord Færgemand to our Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park, but we’d be remiss n...
05/04/2026

We’ve officially welcomed Thomas Dambo's Fjord Færgemand to our Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park, but we’d be remiss not to share the final chapter of this incredible journey. Days 11 through 14 were filled with moments that reminded us just how much this project has meant to so many.

We had the pleasure of welcoming the Rasmussen Group, offering a behind-the-scenes look at our upcoming exhibition Vikingmania!, and marking Earth Day in a way that felt especially fitting.

A particularly meaningful moment came as a granddaughter carried forward her grandfather’s legacy. Decades ago, he helped rebuild the Danish Windmill in Elk Horn; fifty years later, she played a role in welcoming Fjord Færgemand. That sense of continuity—of past meeting present—has been felt throughout this entire experience.

We also welcomed 3rd graders from the Atlantic Community School District, who were able to catch a glimpse of the troll. Their excitement was a reminder of why projects like these matter.

As the week continued, we gathered for an intimate dinner at The Purple Door with several members of the Museum staff, the Dambo crew, and board and former board members whose generosity helped bring this vision to life.

Media teams from across the region arrived, and Thomas Dambo delivered an unforgettable artist talk to a crowd of more than 500 at the Exira-EHK Schools. Despite challenging weather, people showed up—determined and enthusiastic—and we’re deeply grateful to everyone who made the journey.

We also had the chance to welcome back many of the volunteers who helped shape this project from the very beginning. Their return felt like a full-circle moment. From the first steps to the final touches, this has never been a solo effort—we’ve been in the boat, together, to the very end.

There is so much to be grateful for. This project has been built from reclaimed wood and from shared effort, generosity, and joy. Our hearts are unimaginably full.

Tusind tak 🇩🇰

04/30/2026

Velkommen to the Museum of Danish America, Fjord Færgemand!

Fjord FærgemandThe little humans called the giant troll the ferryman,it carried them across the ocean to the prairie lan...
04/27/2026

Fjord Færgemand

The little humans called the giant troll the ferryman,
it carried them across the ocean to the prairie land
at home they had their differences, but now they cherished them,
cause they were in the boat, together, to the very end

Address

2212 Washington Street
Elk Horn, IA
51531

Opening Hours

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

Telephone

+17127647001

Website

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