Norskedalen
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Norskedalen Nature and Heritage Center, which means “The Norwegian Valley,” is located near Coon Valley, Wisconsin, in Vernon County, Wisconsin. Norskedalen is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Norwegian-American culture and heritage as well as the conservation of the natural environment of the Coulee Region. Norskedalen began in 1977 as an outdoor laboratory and arboretum when Dr. Alf and Carroll Gundersen donated 112 acres (0.45 km²) to the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Foundation. Since then Norskedalen has grown to include over 440 acres (1.8 km²) with: 6 miles (9.7 km) of trails, restored pioneer log buildings from Norwegian immigrants of the late 1800s and museums with exhibits featuring the natural and cultural heritages of the area.
Norskedalen includes two sites. The main site is three miles (5 km) north of Coon Valley, Wisconsin and open year-round. A total of 392 acres (1.59 km²) within Poplar Coulee contains the Bekkum Homestead - a re-creation of a typical local farm at the turn of the century, the Thrune Visitors' Center with displays of pioneer and Norwegian immigrant artifacts as well as a hands-on nature display area, the Helga Gundersen Arboretum and the Paulsen Rental Cabin. The buildings of the Bekkum Homestead are furnished with artifacts of that time period and open for guided tours from May through October.
The other site is the Skumsrud Heritage Farm located 1-mile (1.6 km) west of Coon Valley, Wisconsin. It is a seasonal open-air museum which contains more than 11 historical buildings, including the 1853 Skumsrud Cabin, (listed on the National Register of Historic Places), and the Erickson School - the first schoolhouse of the area. Each building illustrates a slightly different construction style.
[edit] Activities
Sweet Sweet Spring (March)
-Maple Surup making
Midsummer Fest (June)
-Horse Drawn Wagon rides
-Nature Hikes
-Woodcarving
-Spinning
-Nalbinding
-Bonfire
Skumsrud Ice Cream Social (August)
-Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social
Threshing Bee (September)
-Reenactment of Turn of the Century Harvest
Ghoulees in the Coulees (October)
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Civil War Heritage (October)
-Civil War Reenactment
Old Fashioned Christmas (December)
-Local artist demonstrations
-Craft Making
-Live Musicians
-Horse Drawn wagon rides
[edit] External links
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