Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia

ABOUT GAMMELGARDEN MUSEUM 

Gammelgården Museum of Scandia aims to create a welcoming, inviting space for all visitors to learn more about art, culture, history, the environment, and immigration (historical and contemporary). The museum offers programs that are responsive to the wants and needs of youth and adults in our community including: Educational field trips and tours; major community events; classes and workshops; displays of historical artifacts; art exhibits; and informal music gatherings.

With only eight open-air museums throughout Minnesota, Gammelgården Museum is the only one of this type in Washington County. Focusing on history, art, culture, and agricultural, Gammelgården is the singular open-air museum devoted to preserving, presenting, and promoting Swedish immigrant heritage in the United States.

The museum’s historic buildings have been carefully preserved and restored so visitors can get a glimpse of the daily lives of early settlers and artifacts from the 1850s-1880s. The majority of visitors – especially children – often have no concept about the purpose of some of the artifacts. So, within just 140-175 years, the knowledge about these items has – for the most part - disappeared. Without continuing to tell the story about the lives of immigrants and early settlers, and the items they used in their daily lives, the story essentially ends.

Gammelgården fills that gap by providing educational programs and hands-on activities, especially at two of its major cultural events (Midsommardagen and Spelmansstämman) to bring these artifacts and everyday happenings alive so history remains integrated into contemporary daily life. These events are free to the public to ensure that they are accessible and there are no financial barriers to participation.

Gammelgården’s walk-in tours are held eight times per weekend (Fridays through Sundays) from May 1 through October 15. In addition, pre-booked or group tours are held at other times during the week, and field trips with tours are held in May-June and September.-October Gammelgården works with local schools and homeschool groups to ensure that children can tour the historic buildings at no cost.

Most of Gammelgården’s classes, workshops, and major events focus on the visual and performing arts. Although Gammelgården’s major art and cultural events are inspired by Sweden and Swedish culture, the classes and workshops have a broader focus of looking at handicrafts, art, and creative expression that were done in the mid- to late-19th century. Having this focal point provides youth and adults with contemporary art opportunities that honor historical perspectives, introducing them to skills and creative expression that was representative of the mid- to late-1800s.

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization, Gammelgården depends greatly on gifts from individuals and organizations to achieve its mission.

DONATE IN 2024

Gammelgården Museum's artifacts in the Pastor's House are in a compromised situation and we are raising funds to have historical clothing and textiles removed from the building and professionally cleaned to remove mold, mildew, and dirt that are destroying these precious artifacts. 

In addition to their deterioration, these items cannot be brought into a safer environment in their current state until they are professionally cleaned and repaired.

We need to raise $10,000 to begin working on these textiles in the museum's collection. Your generous donation will help Gammelgården:

• Prevent further damage to the historical clothing and other textiles in the collection.
• Ensure that the artifacts are properly cleaned, and then stored using archival-quality tissues, boxes, and mannequins. 
• Share the restored textiles with the public in an exhibit during the 2025 season.

Your support, no matter how big or small, will make a significant difference for Gammelgården and its artifacts. We invite you to be a part of this exciting project, and see how the proper care, storage, and exhibition of historical artifacts can prolong their life for future generations to see and enjoy. 

Your generosity of a donation through GiveMN.org qualifies Gammelgården Museum for additional prize grants, thanks to the generosity of the Bush Foundation. Through the 2024 campaign, GiveMN will award:

• $500 Early Giving Golden Tickets daily on November 1-20.
• $500 Golden Ticket prizes every 15 minutes on November 21.
• $1,000 Hourly Golden Ticket prizes hourly on November 21.
• $6,000 Power Hours, shared among the top three organizations based on the amount raised between 10:00–10:59 a.m. and 10:00–10:59 p.m. on November 21.
• The grand prize of Give to the Max Day, a $10,000 Super-Sized Golden Ticket, will be drawn from all of the gifts made from November 1-21.

Thank you for your support of Gammelgården Museum, and for the restoration of the clothing and textile collection in the Pastor's House.