O. E. Rolvaag House

The O. E. Rolvaag House is a 1912 residence in Arts and Crafts style featuring fine handcrafted details throughout its interior. Oak paneling, built-in bookcases, and custom woodwork showcase the careful design typical of this architectural movement.

Built in 1912, the house embodies the Arts and Crafts ideals of valuing handwork and beauty in everyday design. The structure received National Historic Landmark designation in 1969, acknowledging its importance in Norwegian-American literary history.

This residence was home to a writer who told stories of Norwegian immigrants and their lives on the American frontier. The work created here became important for understanding how immigrant communities saw themselves and their new country.

The house sits near St. Olaf College between Greenvale and Summit Avenues, making it easy to locate in Northfield. The original interior finishes remain intact, giving visitors an authentic sense of the space as it was lived in.

The owner wrote his most celebrated work here, an epic novel about Norwegian settlers that remains widely read today. This novel is considered by many to be one of the most important works about the Norwegian-American immigrant experience.