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.