Authored By Gail Hedstrom

Cheese Box Cover, circa 1850, Rosemaling painting in the Telemark style on the cover of a round wooden cheese box, 17.5” x 3.25” (44.45 x 8.255 cm), Grant County Historical Society, Elbow Lake, MN, Photograph by Gail M. Hedstrom. Courtesy of Grant County Historical Society and Museum.

Nearly one million people emigrated from Norway to the United States between 1820 and 1920. The reasons for migration included economic hardship, difficulty raising crops, dissatisfaction with the government, and concern regarding religious freedom. During this time, the United States of America was inviting people to homestead the unsettled Midwest. Inexpensive land and a fresh start presented an opportunity that many could not resist (Blegen 1931). Those making the journey used trunks and chests, to carry personal belongings. Often the trunks and chests were adorned with rosemaling (Stoughton Historical Society 2019).  Continue reading →