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The Swedish American Museum Center is a nonprofit educational activity center for the celebration and interpretation of Swedish American history and culture.
It was the dream of Kurt Mathiasson, one of the leaders of the Andersonville community and a Swedish immigrant, to preserve the Swedish-American heritage in Chicago. The first museum was a small storefront log cabin in which family histories were collected. During the U.S. Bicentennial Year, His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden, officially opened the Museum in its original location.
The Museum moved to its current location and underwent a Phase I renovation. The King of Sweden returned to celebrate the new beginnings of the Swedish American Museum Center.
The Museum completed its Phase ll renovation adding new gallery space and the donations of the Nordiska Museet exhibit to its permanent collection and display.
A grand staircase to the second floor permanent exhibit was completed, and the new Children’s Museum of Immigration for children ages 3-12 opened on the third floor.
A New Face in Andersonville” completed in May 2009. The renovation has been an exciting project, and it’s only the beginning as we transform the Museum into a more environmentally friendly, energy-efficient space. We have new insulated glass on the first floor storefront and entry; new vestibule (airlock) at the entry to reduce cold drafts into the Museum and the Kerstin Andersson Museum Store; new energy-efficient lighting in the lobby and gallery spaces.
Don’t miss out to be part of the Museum as we continue our work to bring our “new face” to other parts of the Museum. Join today!
The Swedish American Museum is an active 32 year old mid-sized museum located in the heart of Andersonville, one of the most concentrated areas of Swedish culture in the United States, whose Swedish roots date back to the nineteenth century. The Museum is in a 24,000 square-foot building and has a temporary art gallery, permanent exhibit “The Dream of America – Immigration to Chicago”, The Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration, library, genealogy center and Museum Store. All areas are wheelchair accessible.
