Norskedalen
Encyclopedia
Norskedalen Nature
and Heritage Center
is a non-profit organization
dedicated to the preservation of the coulee region's natural environment and cultural heritage. Norskedalen is located near Coon Valley
, in La Crosse, and Vernon
Counties, Wisconsin
, United States
.
dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the natural environment and cultural heritage of the Coulee Region
. Norskedalen began in 1977 as an outdoor laboratory and arboretum
when Dr. Alf and Carroll Gundersen donated 112 acre (0.45324832 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 museum
s 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 (1.6 km²) within Poplar Coulee contains the Bekkum Homestead
- a re-creation of a typical local farm at the turn of the century, the Thrune Visitor 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 Helga Gundersen Arboretum is home to a bronze sculpture, Zerogee II, by sculptor Paul Granlund
. 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 miles (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
.
Nature center
A nature center is an organization with a visitor center or interpretive center designed to educate people about nature and the environment. Usually located within a protected open space, nature centers often have trails through their property. Some are located within a state or city park, and...
and Heritage Center
Heritage centre
A heritage centre is a museum facility primarily dedicated to the presentation of historical and cultural information about a place and its people, including, to some degree, natural features...
is a non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
dedicated to the preservation of the coulee region's natural environment and cultural heritage. Norskedalen is located near Coon Valley
Coon Valley, Wisconsin
Coon Valley is a village in Vernon County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 714 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Coon Valley is located at ....
, in La Crosse, and Vernon
Vernon County, Wisconsin
Vernon County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2009, the population estimate was 29,324. Its county seat is Viroqua.-History:...
Counties, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Norskedalen
Norskedalen, which means “Norwegian Valley”, is a non-profit organizationNon-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the natural environment and cultural heritage of the Coulee Region
Coulee Region
The Driftless Area or Paleozoic Plateau is a region in the American Midwest noted mainly for its deeply carved river valleys. While primarily in southwestern Wisconsin, it includes areas of southeastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa and extreme northwestern Illinois...
. Norskedalen began in 1977 as an outdoor laboratory and arboretum
Arboretum
An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
when Dr. Alf and Carroll Gundersen donated 112 acre (0.45324832 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
Log cabin
A log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
from Norwegian immigrants of the late 1800s and museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
s 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 (1.6 km²) within Poplar Coulee contains the Bekkum Homestead
Homestead (buildings)
A homestead is either a single building, or collection of buildings grouped together on a large agricultural holding, such as a ranch, station or a large agricultural operation of some other designation.-See also:* Farm house* Homestead Act...
- a re-creation of a typical local farm at the turn of the century, the Thrune Visitor center
Visitor center
A visitor center or centre , visitor information center, tourist information center, is a physical location that provides tourist information to the visitors who tour the place or area locally...
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 Helga Gundersen Arboretum is home to a bronze sculpture, Zerogee II, by sculptor Paul Granlund
Paul Granlund
Paul T. Granlund was an American sculptor. His creative career spanned more than 50 years and more than 650 different works. Most of his work is figurative and made from bronze...
. The buildings of the Bekkum Homestead are furnished with artifacts
Artifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
of that time period and open for guided tours from May through October.
The other site is the Skumsrud Heritage Farm
Skumsrud Heritage Farm
Skumsrud Heritage Farm is a Norwegian immigrant homestead located west of Coon Valley, Wisconsin, in Vernon County, Wisconsin, United States.-Description:...
located 1 miles (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
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
), and the Erickson School - the first schoolhouse
One-room school
One-room schools were commonplace throughout rural portions of various countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland and Spain in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In most rural and small town schools, all of the students met in a single room...
of the area. Each building illustrates a slightly different construction style
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
.