Little Norway, Wisconsin

Little Norway is a living museum in Blue Mounds spanning a large property with several traditional Norwegian buildings from the mid-1800s, including a storage building, a sod-roofed cabin, a spring house, and family dwellings. The structures display how Norwegian settlers built their homes and arranged their working and living spaces.

Norwegian immigrant Osten Olson Haugen founded the original farm in the 1850s, building structures using timber from his own land. Later, a businessman named Isak Dahle purchased the property and expanded it into this Norwegian village during the 1930s.

The buildings here show how Norwegian settlers lived and built their homes using traditional methods with distinctive sod roofs and wooden structures. Walking through them, you can see how families organized their daily routines and used each space for different purposes.

The property is best explored on foot, with buildings spread across accessible pathways that are easy to navigate. Plan to wear sturdy shoes, especially if the ground is wet, and come prepared for cooler weather typical of the region.

The property was originally named Nissedahle, a name that Isak Dahle chose as a tribute to his heritage and family. The site was closely tied to Chicago history through its earlier connection to a major cultural exhibition from the 1890s.

Location: Blue Mounds

Address: 3576 County Road JG

GPS coordinates: 43.02709,-89.79006

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:40