ELS Ottesen Museum

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ELS Ottesen Museum The Ottesen Museum is the official museum of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Originally comprised of artifacts from the J. A.

Ottesen household, the museum now houses displays presenting the history of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod from 1853 to the present. The Log Cabin Room shows artifacts of early pioneer life in the Mid-West. The Church Parlors Room gives examples of several of the many ways the church parlors serves the congregation.

“October 14th a van arrived from Decorah, Iowa, bringing household furniture, pictures, a large number of books, and var...
10/14/2026

“October 14th a van arrived from Decorah, Iowa, bringing household furniture, pictures, a large number of books, and various articles of historical interest as a gift to the college. There were a large handmade carpet-loom from the earliest pioneer days, a spinning wheel, old clocks and chairs, beds and tables and dressers, etc., all with memories of the past. The greater part consisted of the library and household effects of the late Rev. I. [sic] A. Ottesen and daughter, Hannah, and a special room has been set aside in the recitation hall where much of this will be displayed - the beginning of a museum. We rejoice to know that such a beginning has been made, and those who are acquainted with the story of the sainted pastor Ottesen will realize the significance of this gift to our college.” - Bulletin Bethany Lutheran College October 1931 Vol I, No. 4

Luther College was founded by the Norwegian Synod just outside of the town of Half-way Creek, in La Crosse county, Wisco...
10/14/2026

Luther College was founded by the Norwegian Synod just outside of the town of Half-way Creek, in La Crosse county, Wisconsin, on October 14,1861. The original building no longer remains, but an historical marker now designates the location. The school only stayed here for about a year before moving to Decorah, Iowa.

Just a little over one month after Rev. J. W. C. Dietrichson's initial sermons in the Koshkonong, Wisconsin area, the fi...
10/13/2026

Just a little over one month after Rev. J. W. C. Dietrichson's initial sermons in the Koshkonong, Wisconsin area, the first congregation was formally organized on October 13, 1844.

Professor Johannes Thorbjørnsen Ylvisaker died on October 10, 1917.Ylvisaker studied at Stords Seminary, Norway, 1866-18...
10/10/2026

Professor Johannes Thorbjørnsen Ylvisaker died on October 10, 1917.

Ylvisaker studied at Stords Seminary, Norway, 1866-1868 and took private lessons in languages, 1869-1870. After emigrating to the United States, he studied at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa 1871-1874 (B.A.) and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri 1874-1877 (C.T.), as well as in Kristiania University, Norway, and Leipzig University, Germany, 1881-1882.

Ylvisaker served as pastor in Zumbrota, Minnesota, 1877-1879. He was professor at Luther Seminary 1879- 1917.

Ylvisaker authored the books “Teologi og videnskab (Theology and Science)” 1891, “De fire evangeliers harmoni (Harmony of the Four Gospels)” 1896, “De fire evangleier in synoptisk fremstilling med forklaringer (The Four Evangelists in Synoptic Presentation with Explanations)” 1905-1907, and“Eksegese over Brevet til Efesierne (Exegesis of the Letter to the Ephesians)” 1910. He was the co-editor of the “Evangelisk Luthersk Kirketidende” 1889-1893, the Synod’s “Alterbog” 1897-1899, and the Synod’s “Katechismusforklaring (Catechism Explanation)” 1901-1902.

Ylvisaker was conferred the Doctor of Divinity by both Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin in 1904. In 1912 He was decorated as Commander of the Order of St. Olav by King Haakon VII.

In 1877 Ylvisaker married Kristi O. Flugum. They had ten children: Tora, Olaf, Nils, Sigurd, Inga, Lauritz, Gudrun, Carl, Rangvald, and Wilhelm.

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10/10/2026

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On October 9, 1825 the ship “Restauration" arrived from Stavanger, Norway with first Norwegian immigrants (mostly Quaker...
10/09/2026

On October 9, 1825 the ship “Restauration" arrived from Stavanger, Norway with first Norwegian immigrants (mostly Quakers) in America. This marked the beginning of immigration of Norwegians to the United States.

Rev. Gustav Fredrik Dietrichson was born October 8, 1813, in Kristiansand, Norway, the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Erasmus...
10/08/2026

Rev. Gustav Fredrik Dietrichson was born October 8, 1813, in Kristiansand, Norway, the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Erasmus and Marie (nee Frimann Dahl) Dietrichson. He attended Kristiana (Oslo) University from 1833 - 1842 (A.M., C.T.)

From 1842 through 185, he taught at the school for commoners in Stavanger. In 1851, he was ordained and emigrated to the United States where he was the pastor at Luther Valley, Wisconsin, from 1851 - 1859. He was one of the six pastors who founded the Norwegian Synod in 1853 and was on the church council from 1853 - 1859.

In 1859, Dietrichson returned to Norway, where he served as the called chaplain (?) at Hetland, Stavanger, and served there until 1862.

Dietrichson served as parish pastor in Evje, Torridal, from 1862 - 1864, provost at Robygdelaget from 1864 - 1870, parish pastor in Øier, S. Gudbrandsdalen in 1870 and 1871, provost in S. Gudbrandsdalen from 1871 - 1877, parish pastor in W. Toten in 1877, and pastor in Toten from 1877 - 1883.

Lauritz Seman Guttebø was born on October 7, 1881, in Lake Park, Minnesota, to Kjøstel Larson and Kari (nee Peterson) Gu...
10/07/2026

Lauritz Seman Guttebø was born on October 7, 1881, in Lake Park, Minnesota, to Kjøstel Larson and Kari (nee Peterson) Guttebø. He studied at Bode Lutheran Academy 1894-1895, Luther College 1895-1901 (B. A.), and Luther Seminary 1901-1904 (C. T.)

Guttebø was ordained in 1904 and served as pastor at St. Mark’s, Chicago, Illinois, 1904-1906, Story City, Iowa, 1906-1908, East and West Paint Creek, Waterville, Iowa, 1908-1917, Western Koshkonong, Wisconsin, 1917-1932, Concordia, Eau Claire, 1932-1947 and Pinehurst, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 1940-1945.

Guttebø was one of the thirteen pastors who was present at the Lime Creek, Iowa, meeting in 1918 when the Norwegian Synod of the American Evangelical Lutheran Church was formed.

In the Norwegian Synod, Guttebø served on the Board for Foreign Missions 1919-1920, the Board of Church Extension 1920-1923, and the Board of Education 1923-1924.

In 1905 Guttebø married Anna Emelie (nee Vangsness). They had one daughter named Helen. Anna died in 1966.

On October 5, 1853, the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was founded at a convention at Luther Valley, W...
10/05/2026

On October 5, 1853, the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was founded at a convention at Luther Valley, Wisconsin. Rev. A. C. Preus was elected as the Synod’s first president.

Rev. Luther I. Vangen was born October 3, 1917 near Gonvick, Minnesota, to Olaf and Sophie (nee Ingebritson) Vangen. He ...
10/03/2026

Rev. Luther I. Vangen was born October 3, 1917 near Gonvick, Minnesota, to Olaf and Sophie (nee Ingebritson) Vangen. He attended Bethany Lutheran High School and College, and Concordia Lutheran Seminary (1944), St. Louis, Missouri.

During his vicar year at the Lake Mills/Lime Creek parish, Vangen taught Christian Day School at Lime Creek. He was ordained July 16, 1944 and served the Lime Creek/Lake Mills, Iowa congregations until 1948. He then served Lakewood Lutheran, Tacoma, Washington (1948-1953); St. Paul’s Lutheran, Chicago, Illinois (1953-1957); and Concordia Lutheran, Eau Claire (1957-1973). While in Chicago, he helped to organize the St. Timothy, Lombard congregation. While in Eau Claire he also served Ascension Lutheran, Eau Claire; and Good Shepherd Lutheran, Bloomer, Wisconsin.

Vangen served as the Vice-President of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod 1969-1973, and as the Secretary of the Lutheran Confessional Forum.

On June 27, 1946, Vangen married Olaila Hultberg. They were blessed with three children: Philip, Naomi, and Eunice. Olaila died in 2002.

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4 Browns Court
Mankato, MN
56001

Opening Hours

Tuesday 1:30pm - 4:30pm
Wednesday 1:30pm - 4:30pm
Thursday 1:30pm - 4:30pm

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+15073447421

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