Visit
We welcome large groups at the museum, including reunions, field trips, group outings, and more.
Groups of 20 or more pay an admission price of $4 each, which gives entrance to the museum, Jens Dixen Homesteader’s Cabin, and Bedstemor’s House. One “comp” is given for groups of 20 or more; two “comps” for groups of 25 or more.
To best plan your group visit, please call the museum in advance at (712) 764-7001.
School Groups
The Museum of Danish America offers pre-planned educational programs in art, social studies, language arts and science for all grade levels. (Iowa Core Standards fulfilled are available upon request). To get a sneak peek of what our museum has to offer, check out a virtual tour here: https://www.danishmuseum.org/explore/virtual-tour
School Year Offerings
Danish Immigration and History
Grades: 1-12, Subject: Social Studies, Hours: 1-1.25, Cost: $2/student
This program will be tailored for all grade levels to include activities and experiences that explore Danish American culture and immigration during the turn of the 20th century. Students will learn about the journey to America, the immigration experience at Ellis Island and will compare and contrast life in that time period to the present.
*Weather permitting, this tour will also include a viewing of the Jens Dixen Cabin, a historic one-room cabin from South Dakota, furnished to reflect the lifestyle of a Danish immigrant and school teacher.
Bedstemor’s House and the Genealogy & Education Center
Grades: 3-12, Subject: Social Studies and Language Arts, Hours: 1, Cost: $2/student
Journey through Bedstemor’s House, (Danish for grandmother), a 2-level historic 1908 home restored to its original period. Students will tour the home, learn the differences and similarities between past and present times and learn the story of the home’s builder, its history of residents, and the efforts to restore the house.
The Genealogy and Education Center has one of the largest collections of materials on Danish immigrants in the US, including many rare and unique items. The Center is open to the public for family and local history research and has assisted many individuals in finding links to their past. Tours of the center cover the wide variety of resources available as well as building amenities.
Seasonal Offerings
Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park
Grades: K-12, Subject: Social Studies, Science and Language Arts, Hours: 1, Cost: $2/student
Students have the opportunity to interact with nature in this outdoor classroom setting. Hands-on learning programs led by our museum staff could include any of the following topics - prairie preservation, restoration and history, identifying different plants and animals, seed collection, how immigration affected the prairie, soil testing and comparison, etc. Other outdoor opportunities on museum grounds are the Jens Dixen Cabin, Green Roof, wetland and Danish-designed exercise equipment, which are all unique to our community.
Recycled Art & Writing
Grades: 2-12, Subject: Art, Science and Language Arts, Hours: 1-2, Cost: $3/student
Through October, view the outdoor Nordic Swan sculpture created from plastic buckets by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. We then invite you to create your own animal using a variety of provided recycled materials and plaster. Take it one step further and have students research and write about recycled art and its benefits in saving resources and reducing waste.
40 Years of Collecting - MoDA Celebrates 40 Years!
Grades: 3-12, Subject: Social Studies, Language Arts and Art, Hours: 2, Cost $2/students
In the museum’s 40 Years of Collecting exhibition, students have the opportunity to not only tour this temporary exhibition of highlighted objects, but also view items from museum storage where each student can choose an object to research and in turn write a story about its history and why they selected it.
The Power of Wind: Turbines vs Windmills
Grades: 3-12, Subject: STEAM, Hours: 1-2, Cost $2/students
After touring both the Nature/Culture exhibition at the Museum of Danish America and the historic Danish Windmill in Elk Horn, students will explore the differences in type, style and purpose used to capture wind including the pros and cons of the two. If desired, museum staff will then work with the students to build their own wind turbine according to age level.
Pre-K Story Time in the Galleries - 30 minute programs throughout the school year for our youngest visitors! Programs are $1 per student and include a short story and activities to go along with our current exhibitions either indoors or outside depending on the time of year. Examples of activities could include: Eye Spy, Playful Poses, LEGO play, Prairie Walks, Danish crafts and more!
Register for a Field Trip or Program
Explore additional Danish traditions and experiences. We’re here to help you add to your field trip with other cultural options in Elk Horn, the largest rural Danish settlement in the U.S., to include the Danish Windmill, Viking Hjem, Kringle Man Pastries and more! Visit for an hour or make a day of it by combining multiple learning programs. If registering for more than one program, bundle discounts are available. Admission for teachers and chaperones is free. For more information or to plan your visit, please contact Alissa LaCanne, Youth and Community Educator, by phone (712) 764-7008 or email Alissa.LaCanne@danishmuseum.org.
Traveling Exhibits
Why not have one of our traveling exhibits visit your school? For more information visit our Exhibits page or contact curator@danishmuseum.org