Norwegian Heritage Center - Livsreise

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Norwegian Heritage Center - Livsreise Livsreise (lifs-rye-sa) translates to “Life’s Journey.” Norwegian Heritage Center in Historic Downtown Stoughton

AUTUMN IN NORWAY- A Colorful time to explore!In Norway, as in the US Midwest, autumn brings a wide range of temperatures...
10/22/2026

AUTUMN IN NORWAY- A Colorful time to explore!
In Norway, as in the US Midwest, autumn brings a wide range of temperatures and weather. Summery vibes may last well into October in Southern Norway, while the rain sometimes turns into snow in early November in the mountains. But a sure sign that autumn is here is when the leaves turn yellow and red.

The Norwegian word for autumn is høst, which also means harvest. Autumn is the harvesting season – with plenty of fresh vegetables, fruit, and game! The Norwegian culinary culture takes some subtle turns this time of year, favoring local ingredients and slow-cooked and rich dishes well suited to a chillier climate.

Orange, red, green, brown, yellow: nature is at its most dazzling in autumn. The mountain areas are especially beautiful this time of year, and many Norwegians go hiking in the mountains or forests with their family during the autumn break in October.

And in the North, the northern lights start to dance again ...

Autumn is also the perfect time for a city break! This is the high season for great cultural experiences, be it art exhibitions, literature festivals, or intimate club concerts – maybe with a future global pop star? A walk in one of our amazing sculpture parks, all dressed in autumn colors, is not to be missed either.
(Photo of Øvre Gjøystdal courtesy of Per Lykke. Text courtesy of visitnorway.com)

"The Devil Goes North:"Legends of Witchcraft in 17th Century Finnmark"with Amber Rose Cedarström Ph.D.Saturday, November...
10/21/2026

"The Devil Goes North:
"Legends of Witchcraft in 17th Century Finnmark"
with Amber Rose Cedarström Ph.D.

Saturday, November 7, 2026
1:00-2:00 PM CST
Live in the Livsreise Auditorium

 Norway's deadliest and most virulent witchcraft trials occurred in the country's northmost province. Finnmark. Concentrated in several panic periods throughout the seventeenth century, the hunts at Vardø claimed almost 100 lives—a full third of Norway's executions for witchcraft. This talk will explore the Finnmark trials and focus on the role folklore played in heightening their violence.

Amber Cederström is the acquisitions editor at the University of Wisconsin Press, with advanced degrees in folklore and Scandinavian studies from Harvard University, Cambridge University, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Breaking News:NEW PANELS have been added to the "200 Years of Norwegians in America" exhibit in the Livsreise small gal...
09/17/2026

Breaking News:
NEW PANELS have been added to the
"200 Years of Norwegians in America" exhibit in the Livsreise small gallery. Visit today to see the latest update!!

Livsreise will be closed on Saturday September 5, 2026. Enjoy the Labor Day holiday everyone.
09/01/2026

Livsreise will be closed on Saturday September 5, 2026. Enjoy the Labor Day holiday everyone.

Join Us:" Careers of Service: The Lutheran Deaconess"A Zoom PresentationSaturday, September 12, 1-2:00 PM CDTwith Lauran...
08/13/2026

Join Us:" Careers of Service: The Lutheran Deaconess"

A Zoom Presentation
Saturday, September 12, 1-2:00 PM CDT
with Laurann Gilbertson, Chief Curator of
The Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum
in Decorah, Iowa.
Laurann Gilbertson holds a B.A. In Anthropology and an M.S in Textiles and Clothing both from Iowa State University. She has worked at the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah, Iowa for 30 years. Livsreise welcomes her back for another interesting presentation.

Deaconesses, women called to serve the church and humankind, come from a tradition dating back to Biblical times to the Middle Ages. Their work was revived in Germany in 1836 and the "modern" diaconate spread to Europe and America. There were three Norwegian Lutheran deaconess Motherhouses in America- in Brooklyn, Chicago and Minneapolis.
Register for this virtual presentation via this link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_T9mTZMXcToi7g75O6JdCKA
** IMPORTANT- You must have a ZOOM account to register. If you do not, you may sign up for a free account when you register**

Did you know a new stave church is being constructed in Norway?In the Setesdal valley, a passionate local community is r...
07/22/2026

Did you know a new stave church is being constructed in Norway?
In the Setesdal valley, a passionate local community is reviving Norway's iconic wooden architectural heritage by building a traditional stave church, crafted using Viking Age techniques. The church is scheduled to be complete in 2030.
The original goal was to create an attraction for the village, which could boost tourism and local businesses in the valley. The project has since expanded far beyond the local area to become a national endeavor.
Here are the basics to know about this project:
What: A full-scale traditional stave church.

Where: Rysstad in the Setesdal Valley, Southern Norway.

When: Scheduled for completion in 2030.

How: Built the traditional way, without modern machines and tools.

Who: Over 1,000 contributors, from master craftsmen to students.

The model: Inspired by Borgund Stave Church in Lærdal – Norway’s best-preserved stave church.

The history: Experts believe Norway once had 1,300–2,000 stave churches. 28 of which are preserved today.
When choosing a model for the stave church, the team looked to Norway's best-preserved example: the Borgund Stave Church in Lærdal in Fjord Norway. While the new church will include local details based on the team's own designs, Borgund offers the most precise blueprint.
The Setesdal Valley was the historical home of the Hylestad stave church, which once stood in a field in Rysstad before being demolished in 1664.

A ground radar scan was conducted over the site where the church once stood. The results show that the church’s measurements are almost identical to those of Borgund stave church. Although the new church will not be built on the original site, as the site is protected, it will be located just across the river, next to the Setesdal Museum.
The church is scheduled to be completed by 2029–2030. But it is already attracting widespread attention. The project will remain open to visitors throughout and will serve as an attraction right up until it is completed and beyond.
Visitors will be able to take part in activities during the building process, such as blacksmith work and wood carving. So if you've ever dreamed of stepping into the shoes of a Viking, here's your chance!
Courtesy of Visitnorway.com
https://www.visitnorway.com/typically-norwegian/how-to-build-a-stave-church/ #:~
Shown below Borgund Stave Church, Lærdal, Øyvind Heen. Visitnorwy.com

Famous Norwegians in Wisconsin. Hans Christian Heg was one of four children born at Lier, near Drammen, Norway, on Decem...
05/30/2026

Famous Norwegians in Wisconsin.
Hans Christian Heg was one of four children born at Lier, near Drammen, Norway, on December 21, 1829. The Heg family immigrated to America in 1840 and settled on the shores of Lake Muskego, Wisconsin. For some years Muskego had the distinction of being the destination point for the majority of Norwegian immigrants to America, and the Heg family barn became the gathering point for many of the new arrivals. Heg was active in Republican politics, and was a member of the Wide Awake chapter in Waupun, Wisconsin during the 1860 Election.

Wisconsin Governor Randall appointed Heg a colonel on October 1, 1861, and assigned him the task of raising a Scandinavian Brigade in response to the pending war that faced their adopted country. Recent immigration from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark provided more than 75,000 able bodied citizens in 1861. Heg's recruiting efforts included an editorial in the Emigranten, Oct. 5, 1861. In this call, Heg asked for a thousand men—Norwegians, Swedes, and Danes. He said, "The officers of the regiment will be men who speak the Scandinavian languages. Thus an opportunity to enter the service is afforded those Scandinavians who do not yet speak English." From this call, Norwegian volunteers from Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and Illinois formed the Fifteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. His first military command being the Fifteenth. Notable engagements of the Fifteenth Wisconsin included Island No. 10, the Battle of Perryville, the Battle of Stones River, the Tullahoma Campaign, the Battle of Chickamauga, the Siege of Chattanooga (Missionary Ridge), the relief of Knoxville, Rocky Face Ridge and Dalton, the Battle of Resaca, and the Atlanta Campaign.

Colonel Heg's final battle was at Chickamauga on September 19, 1863. The Fifteenth Wisconsin was fully exposed to enemy fire during repeated attacks and counter attacks throughout the day. While actively rallying his brigade from one of these repulses, Heg received a mortal wound, of which he succumbed to in a nearby field hospital. A triangular pyramid monument of eight inch shells, ten feet in height, marks the spot where Colonel Heg was mortally wounded. There is a statue of Col. Heg on the Capital Square in Madison, WI as well as one located in the Town of Norway in Racine County.
( article and photo courtesy of the National Parks Service)

What's new at Livsreise for Syttende Mai? What's new at Livsreise for 2026 Syttende Mai? When you think of Syttende Mai ...
05/12/2026

What's new at Livsreise for Syttende Mai?

What's new at Livsreise for 2026 Syttende Mai?
When you think of Syttende Mai you automatically think of bunads- those amazing creations that honor the area your ancestors came from or maybe you just wear the one you saw in person when visiting Norway and just had to buy!
As of 2026, there are over 450 different types of regional bunads in Norway, reflecting local history and identity. While the number of variations exceeds 450, it is estimated that roughly 2.5 million individual bunads are owned by Norwegians, making it a staple for celebrations like Constitution Day (May 17th).Variety: Over 450 unique variations.
Ownership: Approximately 2.5 million bunads exist in Norwegian homes.
Usage: Worn by70% of women and 20% of men for special occasions such as confirmations, weddings, christenings and of course Syttende Mai.
Livsreise will be showcasing a beautiful hand-stitch pearl beads on a breast plate , belt or other trim on the Hardanger, or Voss bunads.
Since opening in 2015 Livsreise has been gifted many beaded items which will be on display along with a couple of bunads from those areas.

What's new at Livsreise for Syttende Mai 2026?When you think of Syttende Mai do you always think about bunads and how th...
05/08/2026

What's new at Livsreise for Syttende Mai 2026?
When you think of Syttende Mai do you always think about bunads and how they reflect pride in your heritage? \

According to the most recent statistics:
As of 2026, there are over 450 different types of regional bunads in Norway, reflecting local history and identity. While the number of variations exceeds 450, it is estimated that roughly 2.5 million individual bunads are owned by Norwegians, making it a staple for celebrations like Constitution Day (May 17th), weddings, baptisms, confirmations and other festive occasions.
This year Livsreise is highlighting the handcraft of beading with small beads which appears on the Hardanger and Voss bunads.
Since Livsreise opened eleven years ago many people have donated samples that were sewn up to 140 years ago.

The statistics for bunads in Norway are currently as follows:
Variety: Over 450 unique variations.
Ownership: Approximately 2.5 million bunads exist in Norwegian homes.
Usage: Worn by70% of women and 20% of men for special occassions.

Would you like to know more about the most popular types or the history behind them?
Attend the 52nd Annual Bunad Style show as a part of Stoughto';s Syttende Mai Festival.
This year, as in the past it will be held at 2:30 PM on Saturday May 16 at First Lutheran Church. A Festival Booster Button is required for admission. See you there!

The countdown is on to the Syttende Mai Festival of Stoughton, which starts one week from today!Livsreise is surrounded...
05/08/2026

The countdown is on to the Syttende Mai Festival of Stoughton, which starts one week from today!
Livsreise is surrounded by the American and Norwegian flags And of course with the beautiful blue sky in the background. The weather looks great for the festival weekend so come to Stoughton May 15-17 and put Livsreise at the top of your list of things to see!

Address

277 West Main Street
Stoughton, WI
53589

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Saturday 9:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

(608) 873-7567

Website

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