Elverhoj Museum of History & Art

10/16/2026

Vikings and Bluetooth and Scarecrows, Oh MY...

Meet King Harald Bluetooth, Elverhøj 's entry in the SYV Scarecrow Fest!

More than 1,000 years ago, King Harald Bluetooth helped unite (some say "conquer," but that's another story...) Denmark. In the 1990s, engineers working on a new technology that connected electronic devices wirelessly borrowed King Harald's nickname as a temporary code name and found their answer with Harald Bluetooth. Even the Bluetooth logo has Viking roots! It combines two runes from the Viking Age alphabet known as Younger Futhark: (Hagall) for Harald's H and ᛒ (Bjarkan)for Bluetooth's B. Together, they form a "bindrune" —two runes joined into one symbol, the famous Blutetooth symbol that we all recognize today.

Come say, "Hej!" to our very own King Bluetooth and help him conquer the 2026 Scarecrow Fest.
VOTE #3 — KING HARALD BLUETOOTH!

10/07/2026

We’re going back to where it all began!

After October’s literary detour to Iceland, Elverhøj Book Club is returning to Denmark and revisiting the very first book our club ever read, "The Year of Living Danishly," by Helen Russell. We loved it so much the first time, we thought it deserved another go—and a chance for our newer members to discover it!

Funny, insightful, and delightfully Danish, the book follows Russell as she trades London for rural Denmark and spends a year investigating a very important question: Why are the Danes so darn happy?

Why not join the conversation on November 5 and uncover the secret to Danish happiness!

09/30/2026

TOMORROW! Join us from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. on 10/1/26 as we discuss "Kalmann", by Joachim B. Schmid, a touching and very funny Nordic crime novel that follows Kalmann Odinsson, the self-appointed “sheriff” of a remote Icelandic village, whose carefully ordered world is turned upside down by a pool of blood in the snow and a mysterious disappearance.

Everyone 18+ is welcome whether you have read the book or not!!

09/28/2026

As we look back on Danish Days 2026, it’s hard to imagine that the celebration was once cancelled because too many people wanted to come!

By 1959, Danish Days was drawing 10,000 to 12,000 visitors to Solvang, which had a population of just 1,500. Residents felt that the event had simply grown too large for the village to handle, so that year’s celebration was cancelled. The festival returned in 1961 as part of Solvang’s Golden Anniversary celebration, beginning a new chapter in a tradition that continues today.

A lot has changed since those early years (public restrooms!!), but the spirit of Danish Days remains the same!

Enjoy a few scenes from Danish Days 2026 at Elverhøj and share some of your favorite Danish Days memories with us!

09/27/2026

Our Sisterhood cookbook turned out great! Lots of great recipes and stories

A taste of Solvang, shipped right to your door!

More than a cookbook, "Danish Delights: Recipes and Memories celebrates the food and traditions that have shaped life in Solvang. Created by Solvang’s Flora Danica #177 of the Danish Sisterhood", the book pairs favorite recipes, including Danish specialties, with local stories and memories of growing up in Solvang.

Part cookbook, part keepsake, "Danish Delights" is a little slice of Solvang to enjoy wherever you live.
$25 | Order your copy from the Elverhøj Museum online store!

100% of proceeds go directly to Flora Danica #177, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that gives back to the Santa Ynez Valley through scholarships for local high school seniors and support for community organizations.

09/25/2026

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER FOR ZOOM!
Join us tomorrow, September 26, from 2:00–4:00 p.m. as Dr. Catharina Santasilia takes us deeper into the world of Bjørn Wiinblad. Using works featured in "Through the Eyes of Wiinblad," Dr. Santasilia willl explore the imagination and artistry behind his extensive body of work.

Attend at the Museum for an in-person viewing experience or join us from wherever you are via Zoom! This is a free program.

PLEASE NOTE that virtual attendees must register by September 25, 2026 in order to receive the Zoom link. To register, click on this link: https://loom.ly/Xay_oUY or visit our website, www.elverhoj.org

Come discover the stories behind the art and see Wiinblad through new eyes!

This webinar is made possible through the generosity of William E. Derrenbacher.

09/24/2026

A taste of Solvang, shipped right to your door!

More than a cookbook, "Danish Delights: Recipes and Memories celebrates the food and traditions that have shaped life in Solvang. Created by Solvang’s Flora Danica #177 of the Danish Sisterhood", the book pairs favorite recipes, including Danish specialties, with local stories and memories of growing up in Solvang.

Part cookbook, part keepsake, "Danish Delights" is a little slice of Solvang to enjoy wherever you live.
$25 | Order your copy from the Elverhøj Museum online store!

100% of proceeds go directly to Flora Danica #177, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that gives back to the Santa Ynez Valley through scholarships for local high school seniors and support for community organizations.

09/20/2026

FREE ADMISSION TODAY!

Celebrate Danish Days and Bjørn Wiinblad’s 108th birthday with us at Elverhøj!

Explore "Through the Eyes of Bjørn Wiinblad"and discover the colorful, whimsical world of one of Denmark’s most beloved artists. Kids and grown-ups alike can grab a Wiinblad-themed scavenger hunt and search the gallery for fun details throughout his artwork!

There’s even more to discover with our other scavenger hunts, rune activity, kid-friendly crafts, and games for the whole family.

Come explore celebrate Danish culture and Wiinblad's birthday with us today!

09/20/2026

Join us Saturday, September 26, from 2:00–4:00 p.m. as Dr. Catharina Santasilia takes us deeper into the world of Bjørn Wiinblad. Using works featured in "Through the Eyes of Wiinblad," Dr. Santasilia willl explore the imagination and artistry behind his extensive body of work.

Attend at the Museum for an in-person viewing experience or join us from wherever you are via Zoom! This is a free program.

PLEASE NOTE that virtual attendees must register by September 25, 2026 in order to receive the Zoom link. To register, click on this link: https://loom.ly/Xay_oUY or visit our website, www.elverhoj.org

Come discover the stories behind the art and see Wiinblad through new eyes!

This webinar is made possible through the generosity of William E. Derrenbacher.

09/18/2026

Look closely at this photograph. It was taken 90 years ago, at the very first Danish Days!

In June 1936, Solvang was just 25 years old. Neighbors gathered for a weekend of music, costumes, pageantry and pride in the Danish-American community they had built together. One highlight was a pageant written by Bethania Lutheran Church Pastor Marius Krog, featuring 58 performers in elaborate costumes.

Visitors were welcomed with words that still feel remarkably familiar today: “If you feel at home—as we sincerely want you to—it will be because you are at home.”

Much has changed since then, but that spirit remains. Solvang is still a close-knit community, proud of its Danish roots and happy to share its culture and traditions with thousands of visitors each year.

To see more historic photos of Solvang and learn more about our history, visit the Museum between 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. this weekend. Sunday is Free Admission Day!