History of Museum
The Danish Immigrant Museum (a non-profit institution) was founded in 1983 to preserve the history of Danish immigration to America. In 1994 the first phase building, reminiscent of Danish architecture was completed, housing significant artifacts important to the interpretation of the Danish immigration story. The Museum opened in June of 1994 as a national center for the Danish-American community.
The museum's artifact collection of over 35,000 
artifacts is diverse and wide ranging. There are family heirlooms brought from Denmark, remarkable examples of needlework, tools of early immigrant tradesmen and memorabilia from Danish-American clubs and organizations. Many of the items on display are treasures which have been passed down through the generations in Danish families.
Four organizations work in cooperation to preserve and study the Danish immigrant experience across the entire United States.
1. The Danish Immigrant Museum - Elk Horn, Iowa
2. The Danish American Archive and Library in Blair, Nebraska
3. The Danish Immigrant Archives - Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa
4. The Danish American Heritage Society – Salem, Oregon
Future expansion plans for the museum include the construction of a new permanent exhibit building and planting has already begun on the museum grounds for the Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park, named for the colleague of Frank Lloyd Wright and the father of the Prairie School of Landscape Architecture.
