About Our Collection
As an accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums, Museum of Danish America strives to uphold the highest professional standards in collections care. The museum has collected artifacts and library materials since 1985, building a collection that currently numbers over 46,000 objects. The collection includes artifacts of all shapes, sizes, and ages, ranging from three-dimensional objects to paper documents and photographs. The collection has grown over years and provides a useful tool for those doing research into Danish America.
Accessing Artifacts
Online Access
The museum is responsible for making collections accessible to the public. This is typically accomplished through changing exhibitions, both in-house and at other venues, and through our Visual Storage area on the lower level of the main museum building. The public may also access collections online through “View Our Collection.” Watch a tutorial on how to utilize “View Our Collection” here.
Physical Access
Anyone wishing to view a specific artifact at the museum must submit a request to the Registrar at least five business days in advance of the requested visit date. If approval to view an artifact is granted, the piece will be prepared for viewing. Please be aware that physical access is at the discretion of the Registrar. Visitors may also be required to follow specific guidelines intended for the protection of collections.
Photocopies, Digital Copies, and Other Reproductions and Uses
Many of the museum’s collections, including those held at the Genealogy & Education Center, are available for reproduction in the form of photocopy, digital scan, or standard photography. Availability may be restricted and is dependent upon the stability of the material being requested and on copyright status. Please refer to Reproductions and Use Policy and Fees for more information.
From the Blog
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MoDA Members – Mike & Karma Nielsen
A Museum of Danish America membership is more than a way to support a place you love—it’s a passport to discovery. On a recent trip to Phoenix, former board member Mike Nielsen and his wife, Karma, decided to visit the Heard Museum. As they approached the admissions desk, they remembered that their Partner level MoDA… -
Museum of Danish America to Bring Thomas Dambo Troll to Iowa’s Danish Villages
The Museum of Danish America’s mission is both simple and profound: to explore the stories of Danish immigration, the Danish-American experience, and the enduring connections between Denmark and the United States. Through exhibitions, programs, and events, the Museum preserves and celebrates the heritage, resilience, and cultural traditions carried across generations. Now, the Museum is bringing that mission… -
Building the Troll Together – Mike & Lou Howard
“When I arrived in Elk Horn in 1989, I began building my business — Liberty Labs antenna calibration — in my backyard, using a Boy Scout tent as my first building. I did not arrive with much infrastructure. What I arrived with was belief. Very early on, I learned the story of how this community,…
