Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mission
    • Hours and Location
    • Staff & Contacts
    • Board of Directors
    • Accessibility & Accommodations >
      • Site Map
    • Employment
    • HCSCC Supporters
  • Visit Us
    • Accessibility & Accommodations >
      • Social Story
    • Events >
      • History On Tap!
      • Pangea 2025
    • Exhibitions >
      • Home of Memories: Portraits and Stories of Kurdish and Iraqi Minnesotans
      • Land to Table: Food Stories from Clay County
      • Njal's Saga Tapestry
      • The Unchosen Ones
      • Trådar
      • Treasures from Norway
    • Online Exhibits >
      • At Last: Marriage Equality
      • Stories of Local Black History
    • The Hjemkomst >
      • Be More Colorful VR Tour
    • The Hopperstad Stave Church >
      • Be More Colorful VR Tour
    • Comstock House
    • Felix Battles Monument
    • Bergquist Cabin
    • Field Trips/Tours
  • Shop
  • Join & Support
    • Join Today
    • Enewsletter
    • Donate to HCSCC
    • Volunteer/Intern Opportunities
  • Research
    • COVID19 in Clay County
    • HCSCC Blog
    • Clay County Archives & Research >
      • Holdings
      • Finding Aids
      • Maps >
        • Fire Insurance Maps
        • Plat Books
      • Digital Books
    • General Photo Catalog
    • Falten-Wange Collection
    • Newsletters
    • HCSCC on MNopedia

Events at the HCSCC


Live Event
Scandinavian Festival 

June 20-21
Hjemkomst Center
Admission varies (HCSCC Membership does not apply)
The annual Scandinavian Festival returns to the Hjemkomst Center once again! This year's showcased nation is Norway, in honor of the Bicentennial of Norwegian immigration to the United States. Although Norwegian immigration occurred before 1825, this year marks the first organize instance of Norwegians migrating to the country on the ship Restauration.

The Nordic Culture Clubs of the Fargo-Moorhead area run this festival. As such, HCSCC Membership does not apply for entry to the festival. For more information on the event visit their website here.

Live Event 
HCSCC Board Meeting 
​
June 25
4:00 PM 
​Hjemkomst Center - Elm Room
All HCSCC board meetings are free and open to the public.

Exhibit Opening
Treasures from Norway


July 1
Hjemkomst Center
3rd Floor Hall Cases
Free Entry
Treasures from Norway focuses on the stories of Norwegian immigrants through the objects they brought with them from Norway. These artifacts range from bunads (19th century folk dresses), beautifully rose-painted trunks, and hardanger fiddles. All were brought over to the United States by Norwegian immigrants seeking to start a new life in the country. This exhibit will remain on display from July 1, 2025 to June 21, 2026. 

This exhibit is part of a larger effort to commemorate the Bicentennial of Norwegian Immigration to the United States. 

Exhibit Opening
The Unchosen Ones


July 8
Hjemkomst Center
3rd Floor Gallery
​6pm to 8pm
Free Entry
The Unchosen Ones, a color photography exhibit by Minnesota photographer R. J. Kerns, captures the spirit and dignity of the children and the animals who compete in livestock competitions and do not win. Loveably Minnesotan, the exhibit was created from portraits taken at 10 Minnesota county fairs, including Clay County’s. The exhibit consists of 20 43” X 53” prints in wood frames and 8 framed 14” x 17” silver gelatin prints from wet plate collodion tintypes. This unique collection of vibrant images will be shown at the Hjemkomst Center July 8 through September 30, 2025.

As part of the opening of the exhibit, R.J Kerns will be speaking on the History of Agricultural Photography. This event will be free to enter and light refreshments will be provided.

Live Event
The Unchosen Ones by RJ Kerns

July 11 at 6pm
July 12 at 1pm
Clay County Fair School House
Free Entry​
RJ Kerns will present on inspiration and other details of his project The Unchosen Ones.  This event will be on July 11 at 6pm and July 12 at 1pm.

Live Event
A workshop on iPhone photography by RJ Kerns

July 12 at 10am
Hjemkomst Center
Oak Room
Free Entry
​
RJ Kerns will demonstrate the different ways and iPhone or smart phone camera can be used to take professional looking photos.

Exhibit Opening
Njal's Saga Tapestry

August 6 through 13
Ship Gallery
Hjemkomst Center

​The HCSCC is excited to display a small section of the Njal's Saga Tapestry from Iceland. The exhibition of this remarkable work of the hands will be in the Viking ship gallery of the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead, MN, Aug. 6-13, 2025. Njal’s Saga is the most popular and famous of the Viking-era Icelandic sagas and a source of enormous cultural pride in Iceland and among Icelandic Americans.

Live Event
Presentation on Njal's Saga Tapestry by Claudia Pétursson  

August 7 at 6pm
Hjemkomst Center
Oak Room
Free Entry
Claudia Pétursson, an Icelandic American heavily involved in the tapestry project, will discuss the process of creating the Tapestry and Njal's Saga's importance in Iceland.

Live Event
A workshop stitching used in tapestry led by Claudia Pétursson  

August 9  and 10 from 1 to 3pm
Hjemkomst Center
Oak Room
Free Entry
Claudia Pétursson will led a drop in workshop on August 9 and 10 covering the styles of stitching used in the Njal's Saga tapestry. The two stitches used are based on those in the Bayeux Tapestry which are now thought to have originated in Iceland.



Embroidery kits will be available to purchase in the Heritage Gift Shop.

Live Event
Discussion of Njal's Saga led by Claudia Pétursson  

August 12 6pm
Hjemkomst Center
Oak Room
Free Entry
Claudia Pétursson will led a discussion of Njal's Saga, which the tapestry is based on. Njal’s Saga is the most popular and famous of the Viking-era Icelandic sagas and a source of enormous cultural pride in Iceland and among Icelandic Americans. Njal’s Saga takes place in the Rangárþing region of Iceland. It tells the story about good friends Gunnar of Hlíðarendi and Njáll of Bergþórshvoll. Gunnar's enemies end up killing him, and Njál and his wife and sons are burned to death in their home. It is a story about a battle, power struggle, passionate love, and deceit.

Copies of Njal's Saga are available to purchase in the Heritage Gift Shop.

Visit Us

Hours & Location

Exhibitions

Events

Tours

Archives

Resources

About Us

Membership

Donate

Contact

Employment


Accessibility

Site Map

Accommodations

Connect

© COPYRIGHT 2025  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mission
    • Hours and Location
    • Staff & Contacts
    • Board of Directors
    • Accessibility & Accommodations >
      • Site Map
    • Employment
    • HCSCC Supporters
  • Visit Us
    • Accessibility & Accommodations >
      • Social Story
    • Events >
      • History On Tap!
      • Pangea 2025
    • Exhibitions >
      • Home of Memories: Portraits and Stories of Kurdish and Iraqi Minnesotans
      • Land to Table: Food Stories from Clay County
      • Njal's Saga Tapestry
      • The Unchosen Ones
      • Trådar
      • Treasures from Norway
    • Online Exhibits >
      • At Last: Marriage Equality
      • Stories of Local Black History
    • The Hjemkomst >
      • Be More Colorful VR Tour
    • The Hopperstad Stave Church >
      • Be More Colorful VR Tour
    • Comstock House
    • Felix Battles Monument
    • Bergquist Cabin
    • Field Trips/Tours
  • Shop
  • Join & Support
    • Join Today
    • Enewsletter
    • Donate to HCSCC
    • Volunteer/Intern Opportunities
  • Research
    • COVID19 in Clay County
    • HCSCC Blog
    • Clay County Archives & Research >
      • Holdings
      • Finding Aids
      • Maps >
        • Fire Insurance Maps
        • Plat Books
      • Digital Books
    • General Photo Catalog
    • Falten-Wange Collection
    • Newsletters
    • HCSCC on MNopedia