2026 Exhibits
Gammelgården Museum has several exhibits each year.
For artists and those who enjoy viewing art, Gammelgården has exhibits that showcase contemporary and historical artwork.
View these exhibits online or in person!
2026 Vinterfest Exhibit
Life in a Northern Winter
The objects displayed here reflect the ingenuity, resilience, and traditions of northern communities shaped by long winters and harsh climates across both Scandinavia and the Upper Midwest.
From Sámi reindeer travel traditions and the Scandinavian spark sled on display here, to the handmade wool blankets, kerosene lanterns, and clamp-on ice skates, each artifact in this display represents a different aspect of daily life during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Together, these items portray the realities of life during the cold months for these separate but similar regions through stories of transportation, warmth, work, and recreation in snowy environments where adaptation to winter was essential for survival and community life.
- Spark Sled
This sled, also known as a “spark sled,” is traditional to Sweden and Finland. It is a small sled with a mounted chair on long, flexible metal runners. It is typically self-propelled by kicking off the ground with one foot, or can be pulled by animals like dogs, other people, or domestic caribou. The spark sled was invented in the mid 1870’s and remained a popular form of winter transportation until the first half of the 20th century, when they began getting phased out with the introduction of the automobile. Their use became more recreational after this point, besides their continued use in highly snowy villages and towns in certain regions.
- Woven Tapestry
Depicting Sámi Men with Caribou-Drawn Sled
This woven tapestry depicts two Sámi men traveling through the snow in a sled drawn by four caribou. Archaeological and ethnographic evidence suggests that caribou (reindeer) have been domesticated to varying degrees for over 3,000 years and have long been used to pull sleds and carts in regions where they were plentiful.
For the Sámi people of northern Scandinavia and the Arctic Circle, reindeer herding has historically been central to daily life, mobility, and cultural identity. Reindeer provided transportation, clothing, food, and tools, making them essential to survival in Arctic and sub-Arctic environments.
Caribou are native to the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of North America, including Alaska and Canada, as well as across Eurasia, notably Greenland, Scandinavia, and Russia. They inhabit tundra and boreal forest environments. In Eurasia, the species is typically referred to as reindeer and is often semi-domesticated, particularly among Sámi communities, while North American populations remain largely wild and migratory.
- Kerosene Lantern
Cold Blast Kerosene Lantern, Circa ~1913
This C.T. Ham No. 2 Cold Blast Kerosene Lantern is an antique collectible important to Early Modern America. The kerosene lantern was invented in the mid 1850’s and provided light to millions around the world. This model, mostly manufactured in Rochester, New York, was renowned for its innovative Cold Blast design that allowed for a more efficient cycle of air to meet the flame, which returned in a brighter and steadier flame. Kerosene lamps remained a popular source of light until the early 1940’s.
- Woven Blankets
Wool production expanded in Minnesota during the late 19th century as sheep farming and local textile work became increasingly common in rural communities. Wool production thrived in this region from the late 19th century and into the early 20th century due to the rise of local textile mills. One of these blankets was handmade from local Scandia wool collected in the mid 1800’s.
- Clamp-On Ice Skates
Antique Barney and Barney Clamp-On Ice Skates
A pair of antique clamp-on ice skates, likely dating back to the end of the 19th century, when the company was actively patenting and selling the product. Also sometimes referred to as Victorian Ice Skates. This type of skate was adjustable and attached to the bottom of a pair of boots.
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Chip-Carved Woodwork (Skureut)
Chip carving, also known as kerbschnitt in German, is a decorative woodworking technique in which small chips are carefully removed from a flat surface using a knife or chisel, creating patterns through light, shadow, and texture. In Sweden during the 1700s and 1800s, chip carving was commonly used to embellish household objects such as chairs, tables, clocks, boxes, and utensils.
Intricate Swedish chip carving, known as Skureut, is characterized by precise, angled cuts that form geometric, flowing, or natural patterns and stylized motifs. This tradition appears frequently in Swedish folk art, including spoons, boxes, and furniture, and often reflects regional and cultural symbolism.
The practice of chip carving spread internationally through immigration and the establishment of woodworking schools. Today, chip carvers continue to benefit from centuries of accumulated knowledge passed down through apprenticeships and instruction, sustaining a living tradition of craftsmanship and shared cultural heritage.
Chip Carved Display Box
Square woen box with chip carving ornamentation on all four sides and the top. Three of the sides feature a carved diamond pattern. The fourth side features the carved diamond pattern with a curved tapered opening lined in red velvet. The top features an intricate dial surrounded by a leaf motif in each corner and a border of small lines. The opening of the box follows the circular pattern on one side, so that one side of the box slides open to reveal a false bottom. Below the sliding portion of the lid is a round compartment lined with red velvet, revealed when the box is turned upside down.
Chip Carved Cylindrical Wooded Box
A turned wooden box with a horizontal carved wood band around the center. There are engraved horizontal lines near the top and bottom. On the inside of the box, there is a visible wood eye that remains from the original wood piece.
Primstaff (Primstav)
A primstav is a wooden calendar stick used in the Norse Region, primarily Norway, Sweden, and Denmark to track the passage of days and mark important dates throughout the year. The traceable origins of the primstav date back to the mid-15th century, but historians believe its use could go back as far as the 11th century. Carved with notches and symbolic imagery along its length, the primstav functioned as a practical and mnemonic tool for timekeeping.
The carved symbols represent the saints’ days, seasonal markers, agricultural tasks, and folkloric observances, allowing users to remember significant moments in the year without written calendars.
Each side of the primstav corresponds to half of the year:
- One side represents the dark, winter half of the year
- The other represents the light, summer half
The calendar was traditionally turned over on October 14 and April 14, dates associated with the Old Style (Julian) calendar and the agricultural division of the year rather than astronomical solstices or equinoxes. They remained a useful tool in Nordic society up until the mid-18th century, and faded out of fashion with the introduction and widespread use of the modern Georgian calendar cycle. A small hole at the rounded end allowed the primstav to be hung for easy reference.
The Primstav reflects a blend of Christian liturgical timekeeping, seasonal labor cycles, and folk tradition, offering insight into how time was understood and remembered in pre-industrial Scandinavian society.
Winter Artwork
Swedish Winter Knitwear
This cabinet features traditional Swedish knitwear created for warmth and everyday use during long winter months, including gloves, hats, and a decorative pouch. These textiles are adorned with intricate floral motifs and geometric patterns commonly found in regional Swedish design traditions. Beyond their practical purpose, such items reflect skilled handwork, local materials, and the cultural importance of textile production in Swedish domestic and folk life.
Påsöm Styled Mittens
This pair of mittens is embroidered on both the top and thumbs. It is a lovely example of the embroidery known as Påsöm, the traditional embroidery of Dala-Floda from the region of Dalarna, Sweden, that began in the mid-1800s.
Using brightly colored wool yarn, these intricate flowers embellish garments worn by men and women and showcase the skill of the embroiderer.
During the mid-1800s, a boom occurred in the parish, as large amounts of forest were felled. As a result of the increased income, the use of folk dress/costumes took off again, unlike in many other Dala parishes. Påsöm-embroidered mittens, brim rings, and braces often were a gift from the bride to her future husband.
During the 1930s, Påsöm was a significant source of income for the district. The majority of women embroidered on merit. It was fashionable to have wool yarn embroidered textiles in homes, such as draperies, rocking chair rugs, shelf strips, and desktop wallpapers.
Sámi Nutukas
Nutukas are traditional Sámi footwear made from reindeer skin and fur, reflecting generations of adaptation to Arctic and sub-Arctic landscapes. The soft, flexible leather supports natural movement, while the fur provides essential insulation in harsh winter conditions.
A distinctive feature of nutukas is the upturned toe; the unique beaked toe of Sámi boots differentiates nutukas from mukluks and other styles of Arctic footwear. Although the shape of the curved-up beak can vary slightly by region, they all served the same purpose of helping to hold a traditional binding strap onto a pair of skis. The upturned toe helps to keep the boot from sliding back and out of the binding as the ski kicks back to propel itself. The design also helps prevent the wearer from catching the front of the shoe on snow, ice, or uneven terrain.
Historically, nutukas were worn with woven grass or wool insoles to improve warmth and absorb moisture. Their lightweight and flexible design reflects the Sámi people’s deep understanding of their environment and their close relationship with the reindeer, an animal central to Sámi culture, economy, and daily life.
Top Hat
Carnahan and Brown, Jamestown, New York
This top hat was made by Carnahan and Brown, a hat, fur, and cloak making company based in Jamestown, New York, believed to have open during the Victorian period. The hat appears to be constructed from a fine fur felt, thought to be beaver, a material commonly used in top hats during the 19th century.
Beaver felt was prized for its durability and smooth finish, making it a popular choice for formal headwear of the period. This hat reflects both Victorian fashion and the role of regional manufacturers in producing high-quality goods
Sámi Four Winds Hat
This traditional four winds hat was worn by Sámi men, often for ceremonial or formal occasions. Its four-cornered shape represents the four corners of the earth, reflecting early Sámi beliefs. Traditionally, a blue color, to symbolizes the sky. Red, yellow, and white decorative elements are common in Sámi dress, where colors and patterns often indicate a person’s place of origin, clan, or marital status.
Traditionally, the hat’s corners were stuffed with down to hold their shape and could also be used to store small items. This example, made in the early 2000s, uses modern materials, including manufactured wool cloth, cotton braids, cotton lining, and synthetic fur, reflecting an adaptation of traditional forms to contemporary materials.
From the Eleanor Edman Sámi Collection, 2013
