The Swedish American Museum in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood traces Swedish immigration and celebrates Swedish-American culture through objects, art and personal stories. Its main exhibition follows the journey of Swedish immigrants to Chicago, while the Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration gives children a hands-on way to explore that history. Plan time for the café, which serves Swedish treats such as cardamom buns, and the gift shop. The museum also hosts activities including music events, film screenings and crafts.
Swedish immigration to Chicago
The museum opened in 1976, founded by Kurt Mathiasson to interpret the migrant experience and share Swedish-American culture. Its main exhibition, The Dream of America: Swedish Immigration to Chicago, follows the experiences of Swedish immigrants through stories and historical objects.
Passports and steamship tickets are among the artifacts connected with the journey to the United States. The exhibits also place Swedish immigration within the wider history of the communities that shaped Chicago. Take time to read the displays rather than treating the museum as a quick stop; the collection is arranged to help visitors follow the subject in depth.
A museum visit for children
The Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration gives younger visitors a way to engage with the subject through play. Children can explore a replica Swedish farmhouse, try activities such as milking a pretend cow and carrying firewood, and encounter a large steamship model.
The interactive space focuses on the experience of immigration, with hands-on activities and costumes. Its layout lets adults keep an eye on children as they play. Families can visit the children’s area alongside the museum’s historical exhibits, making it easier to connect the objects and stories with activities for different ages.
Culture beyond the exhibits
Art and cultural programming add to the museum’s focus on Swedish-American life. Exhibitions can include folk art, and the schedule may include music, film screenings and crafts. A story-sharing kiosk lets visitors contribute their own experiences or explore stories left by others.
The café serves Swedish food and treats, including cardamom buns, and the gift shop stocks souvenirs and snacks. The museum is in Andersonville, a Chicago neighborhood with long-standing Swedish roots. It also takes part in the neighborhood’s annual Midsommarfest in June.
Häufige Fragen
When is admission free?
Admission is free on the second Tuesday of each month.
How long does a visit take?
About an hour is enough to see the museum, though families may want more time for the children’s interactive exhibits.
What can children do at the museum?
The Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration has hands-on activities, costumes, a Swedish farmhouse setting and a large steamship model.
Is there a café at the museum?
Yes. The café serves Swedish food and treats, including cardamom buns.
