Material CultureMain MenuIntroductionOverview of Material CultureMoving to America! Packing the trunk and dusting off the folk skills.Claire Selkurt: Frontier ArchitectureGro Svendson: Threads and Thoughts from Hallingdal to EsthervilleMarion Nelson: Folk Art PreservationArchival Resources at NAHA
Mons and Christe Guttormson of Folsom, Wisconsin in 1918 with their spinning wheel they had brought from Luster, Sogn, Norway in 1872
1media/MaterialCulture_13_thumb.jpg2026-01-07T16:12:37+00:00Grace Peterson3cdfdc3a794c3fb8f5b667b32f37997e9018c61c81From Marion Nelson's book Material Culture and People's Art Among the Norwegian's in America p. 56plain2026-01-07T16:12:37+00:00Grace Peterson3cdfdc3a794c3fb8f5b667b32f37997e9018c61c
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1media/MaterialCulture_13.jpgmedia/Screenshot 2025-11-12 at 10.33.32 am.png2025-09-10T14:59:00+00:00Overview of Material Culture45Moving to America! Packing the trunk and dusting off the folk skills.plain2026-02-03T17:52:51+00:00
Moving to America! Packing the trunk and dusting off the folk skills.
When Norwegians immigrated to the United States in the 19th century, they brought with them more than just the dreams of a better life. They brought the physical items that reflected their identities, traditions, and ways of life. From intricately carved and painted wooden trunks to finely woven wool textiles for clothing themselves and their homes, these objects were more than practical necessities; they were symbols of heritage and resilience.
Norwegian immigrants also carried with them exceptional craftsmanship. Skills passed down through generations. Whether in rural homes on the Midwestern prairies or in emerging urban towns and cities, their handiwork continued to reflect Old World techniques while adapting to New World realities. The material culture they preserved and created resulted in a tangible link between their past in Norway and their evolving identity in America.
Through photographs of cherished artifacts, stories of frontier architecture, and reflections on the goods they found, or longed for, in their new homeland, this exhibit explores how Norwegian Americans used both memory and ingenuity to build lives rooted in tradition in their western home. These objects and narratives reflect not only the material culture that they brought, but what they built, valued, and remembered.
