Hjemkomst Center

Moorhead, United States

4.3

Closed now

12 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 218-299-5511
Website:
www.hcscconline.org
Address:
202 1st Ave N, Moorhead, MN, 56560
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Private Lot
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Kids
Yes
Dogs Allowed
No
By Appointment Only
No

Today

Today 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Moorhead) 6:00 AM Saturday, June 28, 2025

Business hours

Monday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday 9:00 am – 8:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Description

Specialties

The Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County at the Hjemkomst Center museum collects, preserves, and presents the history and culture of Clay County and the region. The museum’s Hjemkomst Viking Ship and full-​scale replica of Norway’s Hopperstad Stave Church make the museum one of America’s premier destinations for Scandinavian heritage. The HCSCC also hosts traveling exhibits in 6,000 sq. feet of temporary exhibition space. The HCSCC is a community resource for 150,000 people in the Fargo-​Moorhead metro area and serves an average of 40,000 visitors a year from all over the world.

History

Established in 1986.

The Hjemkomst Center is a unique multi-​use facility owned and operated by the City of Moorhead under a division of the Parks and Recreation Department. This beautiful facility hosts a variety of special exhibits and events, offering something for the entire family.

Vicinity

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12 reviews of Hjemkomst Center

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Burnsville, MN
I made a special trip to this museum as I am old enough to remember the voyage in 1982 of this Viking ship from Lake Superior to New York harbor and then to Norway. It all started with a dream of building a Viking Ship for Robert Asp and sailing it to the home country of his ancestors in Norway. Unfortunately Mr. Asp passed away before this trip and his family continued his dream. This museum contains the ship hjempkof (spelling error) which means Homecoming. There is also a replica Norwegian chapel and other historical relics such as rationing during world war 2. The video we saw was 30 minutes long and informative. Was there an hour. Cost was $ 10 adult admission and $ 8 for kids. I probably won’t need to return but the chapel would make a great wedding venue.
Place rating: 4
Peekskill, NY
Adorable historical center, telling the tale of Robert Asp’s dream to build a viking ship and sail it from Minnesota to Norway. Seems impossible right? Well he started the dream and his family fullfilled it in his honor. Watched a touching short movie about the adventure and then ventured around the museum to check out the massive ship thats inside (the actual one they sailed) and to walk through the WWII gallery and interactive set-​up.
Dorothy was a doll telling us about the place and we probably spent an hour learning some MN history. I enjoy being a dork and learning about stuff like this. Plus, looky here, the ship sailed down the Hudson River as well!!! It really is a small world afterall man
Place rating: 3
Federal Way, WA
The Hjemkomst was a nice little museum to visit while I was in town. I found it extremely interesting the story of the ship. I understand that they need to preserve it, but it would be neat to be able to go on the ship and look around. They also had a large WWII section at the museum. The sequence it’s set up was a little out of order, but it was still nice to see. They also had a local photographer that had beautiful images of the area. We went through the whole thing in an hour.
Place rating: 5
Charlotte, NC
Hjemkomst (Home-​Coming) Center is a must visit Place. The Scandinavian Heritage is very important to people who live in Minnesota. The Hjemkomst Center preserves this heritage through Robert Asp’s dream and entertaining story. The video presentation in the Museum’s Theater presentation is a must see that captures the drama of the construction and sailing adventure from Duluth, MN to Norway.
I remember following the Hjemkomst Journey when I was in High School and had visited the ship several times before it had set sail in the 1980’s.
Place rating: 3
Kent, WA
Cute museum. I went there on a whim and spent a few hours watching the videos and reading the placards with information about WWII. There weren’t many people when I went, but the church was locked up.
There’s a discount for students.
Place rating: 5
Rochester, MN
An unexpected joy. Even though I am not of Scandinavian heritage, I found this museum very interesting. The short film on Robert Asp and his dream of building and sailing a replica Viking ship across the Atlantic is especially moving. The ship itself is on display as well. A fascinating museum, well worth the time.
Place rating: 4
Frankfort, IL
Definitely the most unique small museum I have ever visited. As of this writing there are two components to this unusual spot.
1. A replica full sized Viking ship which was used to «return» to Norway. (Hjemkomst mean homecoming.) There is a 28 minute really well made DVD about this massive display and well worth watching. I had two thoughts after seeing it all — people are awesome, people are crazy!
2. A replica full sized Medieval Norwegian church and a volunteer guide dying to tell you all about it. We got the rushed version (what is Norwegian for thank you) because of an upcoming wedding. Like nothing you have ever seen before!
There is also a gift shop you will adore if you happen to be Norwegian.
The whole thing was quirky and different!
Place rating: 5
Saint Paul, MN
I’m not really the tour type. But this place was suggested as a must see. The grounds are gorgeous. If my church looked like this I might go more often. It reminds me of some of the ancient Orthodox churches in Russia, all that’s missing is the dome. Such beauty, and in that style with no pews, just surrounding benches. Geneva was our guide, and she was amazed that traditionally women wouldn’t be allowed in the altar. They do have weddings here. I couldn’t imagine being married anywhere else. The viking ship is phenomenal, and I can’t believe they used to burn these.
Place rating: 4
Kingston, NY
A Viking ship and a stave church, plus local art.
Also, the gift shop was one of the few places I could find art by local artists.
Place rating: 5
Ada, MN
Having been one that grew up hearing, knowing and watching about Bob Asp and what he was building in that old potato house in Hawley when I young then reading & watching the bits and pieces of the entire epic journey are memories that are brought back every time I visit the Hjemkomst Heritage Center. One of my favorite activities is VIKING VILLAGE Festival usually held in Mid July.
They have various and ever changing exhibits, local and regional art, and other exhibits dedicated to the surrounding area and is always a very enjoyable and unique experience every time. So very proud and honored to have this beautiful place in our neck of the country.
Place rating: 4
Manhattan, NY
Complete with a full replica Viking ship that used to sail inside, this used to be one of the few places for additional cultural learning; it is still the place for local Scandinavian culture.
They have had exhibits like animatronic dinosaurs (I still smell the plastic and remember my enthusiasm!), local and regional art, and other exhibits dedicated to the surrounding area.
Their mission is appropriate:
Heritage Hjemkomst Interpretive Center’s mission is to enlighten and inspire the public by interpreting the life, culture, and heritage of the Red River Valley.
And it’s still a place I love to visit.
Apparently, and I didn’t know this, it’s up for weddings and such, too, so certainly a bonus there!
Place rating: 5
Minneapolis, MN
This is as Scandinavian as you can get in MN!!! A replica of the ship and historic Stave Church from Norway along the river — a truly beautiful setting. I may be biased because my wedding was here (a whopping $ 100 for the historical church and $ 500 for the reception) but it is amazing.
Stop by for a history lesson and to admire the beautiful craftsmanship of the church or host an event.
Highly recommended.