Vesterheim's Immigrant Immersion Program exhibit opens Monday

Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum's exhibition of pioneer projects and journals created by area fourth-grade students who took part in the museum's Pioneer Immersion Program will open to the public om Monday. The exhibition on the third-floor galleries of the museum's Main Building will be open to the public from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. through Sunday.

Each spring Vesterheim becomes a classroom for fourth-grade students.  In March and April, students and their teachers spend at least one hour each week at the museum, immersing themselves in the history and culture of nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century immigrants.
 
The program uses the Norwegian-American experience as a jumping-off point for exploring the experiences of other immigrant groups during the time period.  Students use artifacts, archival materials, and hands-on activities to gain a better understanding of what it meant for immigrants to journey from their homelands and establish new lives in America.

There will be an open house and reception for the students from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Thursday, with opening greetings at 5:30 p.m.  There will be free admission all day on Thursday.
 
The students participating in the exhibition are from Decorah Community Schools, North Winneshiek School and St. Benedict School.  The Pioneer Immersion Program is sponsored through 2014 by Dan and Bonnie Huebner of Decorah.