Elverhøj Museum of History & Art

It's a small museum but it gives you a tour of the past on the foundation of Solvang. Very interesting. It costs $7dlls the entrance. It has a restroom. You can play an activity of looking for hidden things on the paintings in the gallery. We spent about 30 mins total. Must see!

This is a lovely little museum and I learned so much about the history of Solvang, Danish life and migration, and how the power of the press can change the fortune of an entire community. The contemporary quilt exhibition "Cloth as Canvas" that drew me there, as recommended by friends, was delightfully well-curated, showcasing many techniques and styles of different artists that still flowed in a cohesive gallery experience.

This a such a wonderful free museum filled with the history of the town. I absolutely love it and hate that I didn’t have more time to take it all in… You can make a donation! The hours are Thurs-Mon 11am-5pm. They have gifts, souvenirs, books and jewelry. The large gallery is filled with modern art. There is a room with video where people discuss the history of town. I didn’t have time to watch but recommend because the history is very interesting. We learned that only 10% of town are Dutch descendants and the store front Dutch theme started in 1940’s. The garden is simply beautiful and has outdoor seating. I highly recommend visiting this museum!!!

The best museum in solvang! All the other museums around the city are just okay.And some, in my opinion, are overpriced. You get a lot for 5 dollars. This is shared with a lot of danish history and how the town became the way it was. Their wonderful facility and well kept back area of the building where you can see a miniaturized version of the city that it once was a number of years ago. Even the employee that was over there was from denmark and was gonna go on a trip.We're a month back home. She gave us a lot of history lessons the building.

It's a small and beautiful museum. I have enjoyed their art collection. There is an entry fee of $5 for adults.

You must visit the museum when visiting Solvang. The entry is FREE! You can learn Danish culture and how they came to create this village in the 1800. You can appreciate a little bit of what they show in the useful in some of the pictures I shared. It is so beautiful inside and out the architecture in the house is amazing. You can ask the front desk any questions you might have and they have the answers. The staff is very friendly and the atmosphere is very peaceful.

It was a beautiful home. The museum was a small peak into what it might have been like in a home representing Danish culture in the Solvang area. There was a lot of history of Solvang that I learned in this museum. The person who worked there and greeted us was very informative and seemed excited about talking about the history of the family who built this house and the community of Solvang. I would recommend as a better way to understand that town in addition to shopping and wine tasting.

A charming museum showcasing Danish emigration and the story of Solvang’s founders and history. Definitely worth a visit!

Cute little museum, friendly staff, it's only $5/person, children under 12 is free. One side is the history of Solvang, the other side has artwork & there's also an outdoor section & another smaller room outside. There's even activity sheets for kids for the outdoor patio & art section. When you finish you can choose a prize at the entrance (pencils, stickers, chapstick). We spent an hour here, it's further away from downtown Solvang, in the residential area. There's plenty of parking on the street.

A small museum dedicated to Danish history and culture, located within a residential neighborhood as it's an actual home with rooms you can explore, each set up with furniture and props to replicate a typical bedroom, baby's room, kitchen (with fake aebleskivers sitting in a pan), even a model of Atterdag College. One side of the museum, the former art studio of the home, presented an art gallery where we were able to check out the colorful paintings and works of Roland Petersen. We also sat in the backyard outdoor space for a bit, as it was beautiful and peaceful, with hardly any other visitors on site while we were there, probably since it's not so close to the touristy area of Solvang (about a 10-minute walk). Free admission too.

A little off the beaten track from downtown Solvang, and well worth an historical visit. After growing up in Santa Barbara and visiting Solvang for quite a few decades, it was pleasant and rewarding to see this intimate little museum. We enjoyed a self guided walk through tour, and ended up meeting the other guests, and we all shared our own history with Solvang. It's also a wonderful venue as they help to show, promote, and celebrate Danish Culture, and artists and their paintings. Looking ahead they have a musical event coming up, an event featuring Authors and their books, and their Queen of Arts Event in November.

A little bit off Solvangs main road and attractions but worth the visit! Small but packed with historical information. Free of charge but donations are welcomed

A small museum in Solvang but definitely a cool spot to checkout. It's located in a residential area which was kind of weird. It's a free art/history museum but they do accept donation ($5 per person). The museum itself looks like a large house with a few rooms of different history and art. You can go through everything in about 10-20 minutes. I enjoyed it and would recommend anyone in the area to check it out if you have nothing else to do.

Trying to catch up with reviews. We visited this museum in October. Such a great little museum. If you're curious about the history of Solvang and about Danish American history and culture this is the place to be! There is no charge for admission but a suggested donation of $5 is encouraged. There are wonderful displays and there is a cute gift shop. There was a very cool diorama of Old Solvang in the back and I can't believe that I failed to take a photo! The docent was a very knowledgeable and friendly lady. I was surprised to find out from my son-in-law that authentic Viking helmets did not have horns. The docent confirmed that fact and shared that the German composer Wagner gave the costume designer creative license for the opera Flight of the Valkyries, which added the horns to the helmet for dramatic effect. Horns on the helmets are not authentic! Learn something new everyday! Highly recommend visiting this quaint museum while in Solvang.

Lovely little museum with free admission. Staff is very knowledgable and will want to chat about everything that you're looking at. Most things are recreations instead of actual artifacts, but you still get a good glimpse of an old Dutch way of living. Combined with the more modern paintings there still is plenty to look at inside this smaller space. The backyard, though, is giant and made to be used as a peaceful hangout space. One of the people working even told us to come back with our lunches. Lots of little miniature figures too which were adorable

Loved the Elverhoj! Such a lovely little home, full of history. The person who greeted us was friendly and informative. Parking is very easy, as it's in a residential area. Definitely recommend a stop here if you're into history at all, and want to glimpse a bit into Solvang's past. The museum is free, but a donation is welcomed in the front room (a clear box). We personally dedicated about 30 to this museum, as it is rather small.

Two weeks ago my husband and I decided to visit this museum to learn more about Danish culture and history. The museum was originally the home of painter/sculptor Viggo Brandt-Erichsen and his wife Martha Mott, painter/art teacher. They started hand-building their half-timber Danish home in 1950! ~How it got it's name~ The museum was named after the first Danish national play, Elverhøj(translated to hill of the fairies). It was written in 1828 by Danish poet, Johan Ludvig Heiberg. The comedy play was commissioned by the king of Denmark, Frederik VI to celebrate the marriage of his daughter Vilhelmine Marie and son-in-law Frederik Carl Christian! The premier was 5 days after their marriage and is still performed today at the Royal Danish Theatre! It's also named after Danish author Hans Christian Andersen's Fairytale Elverhøj! I would highly recommend visiting this Danish museum that opened in 1988, that just celebrated their 35th birthday on May 5th! Here you'll learn about Danish culture, Danish-American immigrants and the history of the Danish Capital of America! Today was the last day to view Ephemera in Form, Pushing the boundaries in collage & assemblage in their museum gallery! Admission is free, but if you want to make a donation to this non-profit museum, the suggestion is $5.00. SYOY! :-)

Dutch is Life Located in the former house of painter and sculptor Viggo Brandt-Erichsen and his wife, Martha Mott (who was also an accomplished painter and art teacher), the Elverhøj (pronounced "Elverhoy") Museum is a really unique place that looks to teach visitors about the history of Solvang, celebrate Danish culture, and to promote art and artists. The Good: *Free parking and free admission, but they do have a $5/ea suggested donation. Unfortunately, I was a little shy since I don't generally carry much cash, but they don't really hold you to it. I would like to suggest to the people running the Elverhøj to maybe get a Venmo account or something to allow visitors to make an electronic donation. *The building itself is really unique and beautiful to look at. *Speaking of unique, Brandt-Erichsen and Mott were true artists and designed every element in the place even down to the door hinges. Really try and pay attention to the small details they included in everything. *Small art room with a rotating display of local artists *Gift shop to purchase all kinds of Danish themed bric-à-brac. *Volunteers/employees were all really nice and gave us a quick tour of the place and easily answered any and all of our questions. The Meh: *The back garden area was a little underwhelming. To be fair, it was late fall when we visited, so maybe it's more spectacular in the spring. The Ugly: *Not really a gripe, as it is what it is, but definitely not the biggest museum I've ever visited. TLDR: If you're visiting Solvang, then this is definitely worth a quick stop as you can be in-and-out in well less than an hour.

THIS IS A MUST VISIT IF YOU ARE IN SOLVANG!!! Admission is free but a $5 donation is highly suggested. This is away from the main streets of Solvang but so much history is packed into this museum. You not only learn about the early history of Solvang, how it started and how it evolved, but also get a glimpse of the various cultural aspects through the miniature Danish building and other artifacts. Don't forget to go behind the miniature Danish building to see all of the exquisite details inside the house! It takes about half an hour to an hour to tour the entire museum and this is sooooo worth the time!

A must see in Solvang. They have a beautiful kitchen exhibit that shows what they used to make Danish foods. The Viking exhibit is wonderful as is the diorama. They have a cute gift shop with reasonably priced items. There is also an art exhibit.

Awesome museum about Solvang in a building that was not built with nails. It's very difficult to find because it's in a residential area, not in the main part of the city. The closest building is the fire department station. Anyways back to museum itself, it has kept almost everything intact from the previous owners, and the volunteers are happy to explain a lot about the house's history and Solvang iteself. Totally recommend visiting this museum!

A must see for a look back at Solvang's history and uniqueness of its culture in one location. Off the main strip of tourism trappings. A walk through self guided takes 30 minutes to an hour or more.

Interesting little museum. Too bad the woman running it is extremely rude. My 4 year old needed a restroom so we went in. My mom asked the woman there if they had a bathroom. She very curtly said they didn't and ended the conversation without so much as an apology for the inconvenience or suggestion of an alternative. She then completely ignored my boyfriend and I (we are Asian and black) as we looked around, but she (white) did kindly go over some history with other visitors (white).

This is a must stop if you are visiting Solvang for the history. The gal that was working, I think her name is Karan, super nice and informative. She basically was our private tour guide! We really enjoyed the history of this house and all the items on display. The house was built with no screws or nails! Thank you for preserving this place and sharing the history. Plenty of street parking. Don't forgot to donate at least $5!

Exhibits are very well done with lots of interesting artifacts. Really interesting and a "must see" when in Solvang. Many items on display remind me of my grandmother's home in Denmark and of my own home in Canada.

Always great experience visiting this museum. The docent is accommodating and knowledgeable. We came in 30mins before closing time. Must visit when in Solvang.

The Museum is blended in with other homes, so it looks like a regular home. When we first arrived, you would notice the door is different, it's not a doorknob, it's a string. I was mindblown and thought that was really unique and cool. You basically lift the string up and push the door (they have instructions on how to open the door). Once we went in, we were greeted by a lady who gave us the history of the home and its owners. The home was pretty small but had such beautiful history. They do have a small art section, which was all beautiful as well. It was free entrance, but you can donate. Thank you to the guides for giving us the history and being able to tour the beautiful home/artwork. Service: 5/5 Tip(s): - Free entrance - Door is unique (lift rope up and push the door to open)

I stumbled into this museum as I had a day of wandering while my hubby golfed. What a great place! Loads of accurate local history is showcased in this restored home which was built by an early family in the area. Their story alone is worth the visit. Wonderful to see the architecture and decor of the era up close, and they even have some original home furnishings. Staffed by a team of local docents, their dedication and knowledge of local folklore is invaluable. Do stop by and take a step into the past, getting to know how life once was.

We stopped by here to learn more about the history around the area. We enjoyed all the information and artifacts from the settlers, as well as the backyard area. We also found free parking nearby as well, since downtown was packed and there was a car show that day. Free admission!

10/31/2018 The first aspect I always notice about any house or building is the architecture. This house is striking to me with it's brick patterns and various roof pitches. The horse sculpture stands guard upon the rock laid path. Then the front door greets with a dancing female wood spirit accompanied by her forest friends, from Denmarks famous folk play, Elverhøj of course. This museum which opened in 1988, depicts Danish culture in a unique experience. I enjoyed watching the DVD with first hand accounts from Solvang residents and the son of Viggo Brandt-Erichsen & Martha Mott. I learned that Viggo Brandt-Erichsen began building this house in 1950, mostly by himself with the help of his children and a few hired hands over the course of four years. There is no charge for admission, however donations are accepted. Ongoing exhibitions include; Solvang room exhibit, Viking exhibit & Elverhoj around town. Current exhibit from August 25th to November 11th 2018; Celebrating 30 years of art in the community, past, present and future. The gorgeous backyard garden area includes a gazebo and a bell tower equipped with a chime. Weddings can accommodate up to 150 guests. For more information about volunteering, membership, DVD about Danish & Solvang history visit: http://www.elverhoj.org

A very lovely place to look at the history of the area. The attendant of the museum happen to be our tour guide we had on our walking tour of Solvang. It was a delight to see Kristen again.

Elverhoj' or Elves Hill Museum of History is a simple and engaging museum with all the history of the city. We stopped here after venturing out to Solvang and I would say that it is an essential part of learning what, and who makes this town. Although it's off the main strip it is worth going to if you appreciate history. Plan on spending at least 45 minutes to take in the the architecture of the house, the rooms, the gift shop and the pieces in the gallery. The rooms in the house show the furnishing of the early 1900's and they are maintained exquisitely. It's a decent sized (architectural marvel by today's standards) house/gallery built by Viggo Brandt-Erichsen and his wife, Martha Mott. They built the house with no nails. Our Docent Linda Palmer was insightful and educated us on the house, the culture, and Solvang's history. We spent time appreciating the character of each room, looking at old photographs and even viewing the diorama depicting the construction of Solvang. If you visit Solvang I have to suggest this museum because it really gives you a perspective of the culture, the town and the history that leads to the present charm of the community. I could go on and on about what I learned about the Bluetooth symbol or its origin or how I spelled my name in Danish but that would take away from you experiening it for yourself. It's always good to learn about other cultures in an effort to understand and appreciate what we all bring to this world. Check it out and you'll see what some of the Great Danish/Danish-American culture is about.

This was a nice house to stop by and learn some history about Solvang. How the first Danish settled here in Solvang. The school that was built here for them, and a church. Even though they settled here and learned American ways fairly quickly they still keep their Danish culture and traditions. They have a couple of rooms with a lot to see. They have old furniture, paintings, old photographs. I especially liked the children room we went into. They had this homemade bassinet made by Viggo Brandt-Erichsen that he made for his son. All around the bassinet were paintings from Hans Christian Andersen Stories, that looked very neat. What also looks very nice and detailed was a doll house that was in the room. Even though this is a self guided tour there are some ladies here that will give you some back story on either the house, kitchen, school or anything that you have any questions on. Entrance is free and donations are welcomed. Really glad we stopped by.

Very nice-if somewhat small-museum focused on the history of the local Danish-American community, and the artist couple who formerly owned the house. Very friendly and helpful staff. Free, but donations are graciously received. Easy street parking.

Great little museum. Love that they has guest speakers and change up their displays.

A museum in the oldest building in Solvang might seem cheesy (because nothing is Solvang is considered cliché) but this is a classy place with an art gallery with works for sale and educational displays about Scandinavian history and the town's development. Located a few blocks away from the town's core commercial and tourist area, it's just far enough to make driving sensible instead of walking. Parking is in a residential neighborhood. Allow 30 minutes to visit and bring cash for the $5 suggested donation.

This is a little hidden gem in a residential area of Solvang, because it was built and lived in for 30 yrs by a family before becoming a private museum. It's fascinating to see authentic Danish tools and house items, spanning from 1835. The staff are knowledgeable and so informative.

Loved the Elverhoj Museum. Docents were gracious and knowledgeable. Learned a lot about the Danish experience in North America, particularly Solvang. Many informative exhibits and the special expose of Greenland was excellent. Newly landscaped. No charge, donations accepted. Will definitely visit again in the future.

What a wonderful historical visit, free of charge, complete with a docent who was super knowledgeable and had amazing info on the genesis of Solvang, its original inhabitants, and the evolution of the Santa Ynez Valley! The building is original from 1947, chock full of artifacts brought here by entrepreneurial Danish-American businessmen (not really settlers) who lived in Iowa, but decided to venture West. It really taught us a lot - not just about Solvang, but also about the Chumash, the Spanish colonialists, and the way of Danish life in America. Not to be missed!

A great way to get some information on this cool town! It's a small museum but it's free! Actually, donations accepted so cough it up. There was a room dedicated to the history of Solvang and if you were really into it, there was a ton to read. They had Danish furniture and dress and bits of culture (items that you would have found in a typical agricultural household during the town's early years). There was also a room dedicated to revolving art exhibitions (if I recall correctly, the building itself was previously an artist's home). When I stopped in, the subject was unorthodox book formats (created by various artists) and it was a quick but stimulating view. If you walk out through the back and pass through the yard, there is a smaller building. Inside, a miniature model of the original town. Definitely a good way to inject some history and knowledge into your foray into Solvang!

Hvis man vil gerne lære lidt om den lille by Solvangs historie, kom og lær alt herude! Okay enough Danish for now... I started my introduction of this museum in Danish because it is befitting... as Elverhoj Museum is super cute and super Danish! Elverhoj Museum encapsulates the Danish immigrant and Danish-American experience in the city of Solvang. The museum curators here are very friendly and very knowledgable about the city's history and the influence the Danish community had on this commune. One of the curators I had the pleasure of meeting was a super cute and super sweet older Danish woman, with whom I was able to share a pleasant conversation in Danish. The museum houses old antiques (not really "artifacts") that were used/represent what Danish folk would have owned in Solvang during the 1800s and 1900s... Many of which were farming tools and furniture what would be owned by a typical modest Danish agricultural family. One of the cool pieces of furniture/tools I saw was a nifty "trappestige" also known as a 'step ladder', which was device able to convert from a step ladder into a seat, and vice versa. To note, many of the tools I had never seen before so it was nice to have things explained in Danish and English by the kind Danish curator I mentioned previously. Parking is plentiful here, but is not necessary if you plan on walking here from downtown Solvang.... A brisk short 5-10 minute walk. No entrance fee here... however there is a suggested donation box which is completely voluntary. I really like this place because it encapsulates Danish American life in Solvang and probably represents much of what it was like in other Danish towns across the nation (like the city of Dannebrog). The museum definitely fits the Danish word of "hygge" or "hyggelig" which roughly encapsulates a comfortable coziness. The people that work here are definitely "hyggelig" as well! On your next trip to Solvang, make sure to stop by here, bask in the "hygge" atmosphere, and get a taste of Danish American history here!

We loved this cozy and inviting museum. It is nested in the middle of peaceful and quiet neighborhood and offers an insightful look into the Danish history of the valley. The building hosting the museum used to be a house, so you are sort of walking through someone's life and see it through their eyes. There is a beautiful back yard with a gazebo, if you just want to sit down and listen to the wind. The cottage in the back has a panorama of old Solvang, and you see that a lot of the buildings are still in their place (no wonder as they were only built in the 1950's). I highly recommend dropping by, as it will take you about 30 minutes to see the exposition, but will enrich your stay and provide a great context for your visit.

So glad we decided to stop by this museum. I thought it was going to be a quick 15min look but everything was so interesting! Lots of good information on the history of Solvang, rooms full of beautiful displays. Even one section with a featured artist! Great place for kids, teens, adults!

Our family thoroughly enjoyed our time at Elverhoy! The museum is a beautiful and peaceful place to visit, and the little gift shop is full of inspiring books, toys, decor, and more! We came home with a few little things - including a little wooden Viking magnet for the fridge! The entire experience from the front door forward was lovely and I came home feeling artistically inspired.

Made my annual pilgrimage to Solvang and was able to get to the Elverhoj museum when it was open (helps a lot when visiting! LOL They are currently closed Monday-Tuesday, open other days 11am-4pm). This place is wonderful, and I need to upgrade them to 5 stars for all the work and effort they do in presenting a broad idea of Solvang's history on many fronts, using the former home of the famous artist Viggo Brandt-Erichsen and his wife, Martha Mott. He built this home himself as he had time while continuing his profession. Quite impressive, and a wonderful feel to this day of early life in Solvang. The museum's entrance is the original front door (carved by him, and showing an elf at play - the "elverhoj" it is named after: elf playing!). The main area of the museum is the original living room, and the beautiful fireplace next to the counter is also a handmade piece. Already you get a real feel of the people who lived their lives here. You self-guide yourself through a series of rooms; usually I start with the kitchen, but not until I visit all the exhibits in the main room. There is much to see, and I am sure during my next visit there will be new items here and there, as the exhibits are updated. The kitchen is the most impressive room for me, a beautiful green color - everywhere! - and painted with floral motifs, and filled with items from it's original years. The stove is awesome as well, and features rings that could be lifted out to allow larger flames for different sized pots - only infrequently do I see "dual burners" in stoves today! The whole experience makes you want to grab a cup of coffee and an Æbleskiver from the stove top and just sit a while. You can visualize Martha Mott looking out on a green yard through the same kitchen window while washing dishes. Journeying on to other rooms, there are bedrooms with amazing displayed that feature artworks, furniture, clothing, personal items and so much more. One of the vases displayed is one of only two known to still be in existence! There is a doll-house on steroids in one bedroom, with a clear backing you can look into (where the children would have played with it) and the detail of the interiors is a testament to old world quality, as you wouldn't find this house on Amazon nowadays. Finish your tour with a visit to the cottage in the back yard, where you will find a large and well-done diorama showing literally the entire old town area! It takes a minute to match the features to the present town you are in, but doing so gives a new sense of the history of Solvang (for example, when you eat in the Bit O' Denmark restaurant, as I have several times before, only to find out during this visit to Elverhoj that the building it is in was one of the first built in Solvang, this one in 1912, and housed the first folk school! Suddenly a restaurant takes on a new life, thanks to a little museum of history and art a few blocks from the downtown. The museum is well run, modern and effective, and certainly worth a visit. It's also free, but if you like what you see, show a little love . . .

I had no idea this museum was here until the tourist center suggested seeing it. It's just outside the main streets and is a nice museum made out of an actual house that was donated. The displays are nice and the staff is knowledgable. There's a suggested donation when you enter but I think it's worth it.

It's a very cute and educational museum. The museum staff member I talked to was really nice and friendly. I really liked the kitchen and the diorama of the early Solvang. If you are in the town, please make sure to stop by this museum.

Small but quaint museum that shows what life was like in early Solvang. Beautiful home and helpful staff.

Of course Elverhoj Museum of History and Art was my first stop in Solvang. Located on Elverhoj Way, there are several street signs telling you which way to go for the Museum. And it's in a residential area so there is plenty of street parking (actually, there's plenty of street parking throughout Solvang). The building that the museum is in used to be a house, so it has a very homey feel to it. I especially love the cute horse in the entrance courtyard. The museum is open on Wednesdays through Sundays and their mission is to collect, preserve, and exhibit the history and Danish culture of Solvang. They currently have a special exhibit going on until February 2014. "Eight Seasons Above the Arctic Circle," the exhibit is about photography Birgitte Aaerstrup's journey among the Sami people. The Sami are from the Lapland region, which extends across Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. Her photographs were quite interesting, and I loved the ones she took of reindeer. Their ongoing exhibits include their Vikings display and their Solvang Room. It was quite informative to walk through the exhibits and learn more about their history and culture. They even offer arts and crafts workshops here for those that are interested. The museum is pretty small though, so admission is free. A $3 donation is suggested, but they don't pressure you at all--instead there is just a box near the entrance for donations if you so wish. They have a small gift shop as well which has some cool items.

So, this is a review of a museum from an admitted anti-museum person. I'm not angry at museums, just a little too ADD to fully appreciate them. That being said...this one was worth the visit. First of all, you can donate an amount that correlates with what you will get out of the experience. I'm up with that. Second, this place is quality...both visually and in content. Somebody didn't just throw this place together...the exhibits are thorough and extremely well done. Being attention deprived, I like living exhibits and we were treated to a live lace-making demonstration by the cutest docent woman. Very cool. The art here is the icing on the cake. Unfortunately, the kitchen (which sounds like it was something to see) was recently flooded and was under renovation. The little bit we did see - carved and painted wood cabinets - was adorable and authentic. It's worth the small effort to get here...slow down and enjoy the walk through Solvang's neighborhood side streets.

While this was an interesting piece of Danish-American culture in the glorious town of Solvang...it seemed to be a simple collection of antiques and such spread about somebody's house...and then they called it a museum. I can't say that I was a fan, but I appreciate what they are doing here. If you are in the area, it may warrant a visit if you have nothing else to do...or if you like old stuff. My favorite part of the whole thing was the front door of the house...seriously!

My mother in law and I went to this museum and it was beautiful. A beautiful exhibition and a wonderful experience. There was a Viking collection and knives swords and Thor's hammer. I that it was nice for kids and all grown ups alike who love that movie. The next exhibit was of a famous artist but a traveling exhibit of Eyvind Earl. He was a famous artist that started in 1951 he joined Walt Disney Studios as an assistant background painter and he created the book of "toot, whistle, plunk and boom" an animated short that one and Academy award and Cannes film festival award. He was also responsible for the styling background and colors for the highly acclaimed movie sleeping beauty and gave the movie at magical medieval look. He also painted diorama for sleeping beauty Castle in Disneyland in Anaheim California. He also had done Christmas card thinking it was a very famous Author. The next exhibit was the attire of a Dutch community They had a beautiful doll house, they had early 1800s century treasure chest and it was a wonderful exhibit very knowledgeable people. A must see.

This explains Solvang. I'd been through Solvang once or twice, drinking in the vibe, without knowing a thing about the town's unique history. This is THE place to go if you're like me, wondering "how did all this happen ... and why?" The museum's cool exhibits humanize the Danish architecture and street names you can't miss driving through. Be sure to visit the model city in the back room. Oh yeah, the best part: admission is free!

All this time that we've visited Solvang and somehow missed this little treasure trove. Don't be fooled by the surrounding residential area - this is a must-see. So much history in this tiny house. The ladies there were so helpful and insightful. We made it just before they closed, and even though they were probably tired, they let us in and patiently answered my youngest's endless questions. Did you know that this house like old Danish farmhouses was built without a single nail in its construction? The little store has cute gifts too. Of course my kids loved that the place was decorated for Christmas, that there were interesting Christmas ornaments, and there were candy canes to enjoy while wandering around the halls. Will definitely be back next time and spend an even more leisurely visit here!

We've been to Solvang many times but were unaware of the Elvehoj Museum. We came across it on a map and decided to check it out. It's a few short blocks from the commercial tourism of the town center providing a refreshing change. The museum is housed in a "real" home that worth the visit alone. We were there when an exhibit was showing the Danish historical roots of Solvang, which was fascinating. The docent, Linda, was friendly and very knowledgeable without being overbearing. There are excellent exhibits throughout the home/museum that are worth your time. A visit would be well worth your time.

So much history about solvang. The woman working there was very friendly and informative. Will definitely return.

After walking the well beaten path around the more popular areas of downtown Solvang, I was on cloud nine after touring the wool spinning store (yeah string!) when I wandered out of Aarg Alley onto a street which had a tiny blue museum sign and an arrow on it. Intrigued, I pressed on walking past the local fire station and down two tiny blocks into a residential neighborhood where I found Elverhoj Museum of History and Art. The museum is the former residence of Viggo Brandt-Erichsen and his wife Martha Mott. The museum reflects the history of Danish life in Solvang and since I'm into history for genealogy's sake, I thought this place was cool, but once told that both were artists, the museum took me to a special place, an intimate view into a life of an artist. The grounds are beautiful, the house turned museum is very well kept and I found the displays, which varied from room to room, to be interesting as well as informative. The docents were friendly and eager to answer questions. Limited street parking, gift shop and $3 donation suggested.