Bedstemor's House

Watch the YouTube video, "The Story of Bedstemor's House," parts 1, 2, and 3, at the bottom of this page. 

Bedstemor’s House was built in 1908 by Jens Otto Christiansen, a Danish immigrant and Elk Horn businessman. The two-story Victorian home features four rooms on the main floor, three bedrooms and a closet upstairs, and a small root cellar below the kitchen.

It is unknown if Christiansen ever lived in the home himself, as he built it as an engagement gift for a young woman who turned down his marriage proposal. Christiansen rented the home to several families until he sold it to the Salem Old People’s Home in 1933 for “one dollar and other valuable contributions.”

In 1946, the house was sold to Meta Mortensen, also of Danish descent. She lived in the home for 36 years, making only a few notable changes. The roses that she planted along all four sides of the house still bloom.

In 1982, Meta sold the house to the Elk Horn-Kimballton Arts and Recreation Council. The Council and former Elk Horn resident Ardis Petersen spent a year restoring the home to reflect the turn of the century. The Council operated the house for seven years until it was deeded to the Museum in April of 1990. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 16, 1997. 

The Museum continues to operate Bedstemor’s House as an historic house museum, interpreting the home in its first decade. All rooms are open for viewing.

Bedstemor’s House is open to the public between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm from May 15th to September 15th, and by appointment throughout the remainder of the year, excluding major holidays.

"The Story of Bedstemor's House" video is made possible by generous support from Marne Elk Horn Telephone Company and Humanities Iowa, the state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. 

The Story of Bedstemor's House - Part 1 of 3

The Story of Bedstemor's House - Part 2 of 3

The Story of Bedstemor's House - Part 3 of 3