Vesterheim announces the opening of the Bruening Visitors Center

Vesterheim's Bruening Visitor Center was made possible thanks to a donation from Duane K. and Eileen M. Bruening of Decorah.

Vesterheim Museum has set a date for the opening of the Duane and Eileen Bruening Visitor Center.

The museum announced Wednesday that it will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, June 10th, at 5:00 p.m.

The facility was made possible by a donation from the Bruenings.  Vesterheim Executive Director Steve Johnson calls the visitors center "a wonderful addition" to the museum.

Bus tours will disembark at the visitors center, visitors can buy admission tickets, and all guests can explore the museum's collections through a computerized catalog before or after their museum visit.  There will also be touch screen access to virtual galleries and video presentations.

The center features paintings and decorations commissioned from Norwegian artist Sigmund Aarseth and Iowa rosemaler Sallie Haugen DeReus.

One of Sigmund Aarseth's paintings