Historical Exploration Adventure #1: American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota
I visited the American Swedish Institute (ASI) in Minneapolis for the first time. About a mile south of the heart of Downtown Minneapolis, ASI has free parking and bike racks for guests as well as free admission on Thursdays after 3pm until closing at 8pm.
What is the American Swedish Institute (ASI)?
ASI is a museum built around and in tandem with the historic Turnblad Mansion. This historic place is also a cultural education center that is accompanied by a café and gift shop. This video from ASI may be a bit cheesy but it’s a perfect teaser.
The American Swedish Institute has so much to offer it is kind of embarrassing that it had taken me 28 years of living less than 10 miles to discover this wonderful place. Another great aspect of ASI is that it is the home of the Honorary Consulate of Sweden in Minneapolis which represents the Swedish government in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska, in concert with the Embassy of Sweden in Washington, D.C.
Turnblad Mansion
The Turnblad Mansion is the most jaw-dropping architectural splendor that I have seen in Minnesota. The amount of detail is almost too much for the senses to take in. My neck began to hurt from staring up at the ceilings and the two-story fireplace in the grand hall.
It was still bright outside when we visited which was the absolute best way to look at the Visby Window. This was the first stained glass artwork that I have seen not in a church. The placement at the top of the grand staircase draws you further into the mansion. You can see it in the video in the section above.
Let’s dive into the history of the Turnblad Mansion and why it is such an important part of the American Swedish Institute.
The mansion’s construction began in 1904 and was not finished until 1908. Now the “Castle” is only one of eight remaining structures from this era in the area called the Minneapolis’ Golden Mile. There are 33 rooms in the mansion, each with its own distinct style.
Inside and out, the Turnblad mansion has detailed handiwork that seems to cover every square inch. The level of extravagance from that era is unique. (This a topic I plan on diving into in later articles, so make sure to subscribe to the monthly Reframing History newsletter.)
To show you a bit more of what I mean, take a look at this picture of the drain spouts.
How amazing is that? When is the last time you saw a lion’s mouth used as a drain spout? This detail brought me so much joy and is definitely my favorite exterior feature. The black and white photo does not do it full justice. Make sure you take a look out the windows as you tour the Turnblad Mansion.
The Morning Dip
From 7/21/22 to 10/30/22, the featured exhibit at ASI was The Morning Dip an ongoing portrait series by Peggy Anderson, a Paris-based, American-Swedish artist/photographer. Each portrait captures one to three participants of the Swedish morning ritual in their bath robes.
It was wonderful to learn about such a unique morning tradition, especially about the coastal village of Torekov, Sweden where nearly every resident participates daily. The people in the photographs vary greatly by age and gender. Some with big grins and others with the blank faces of those still tired.
In one of the exhibit rooms, bathrobes and other props were provided so you could take your own Morning Dip photo. I regret to tell you that I did not take a photo. Something that in future site visits will be a priority so I can share them with all of you. Instead here is my favorite portrait from the series, which I found on Peggy Anderson’s personal website.
This exhibit was fun but more importantly thought-provoking, given my Nordic heritage and having resided in Minnesota my whole life. The Polar Plunge I expect came into many people’s minds. Although the polar plunge is usually a charitable event and not a daily ritual, the act of submerging yourself in cold water is often strange to others in warmer climates.
Peggy got close to the Swedish community she photographed. Sometimes being American, in the land of immigrants, you feel exposed to so many cultures that sometimes you can feel out of touch with your own ancestry. It is nice to visit places like ASI that show how different cultures have evolved once becoming Americanized and evoke thoughts about how parts have stayed the same over several generations.
ASI Online
If you weren’t already convinced that you need to visit ASI in person (or even if you are), I highly recommend checking out the ASI website. You can sign up for classes, check out pictures from the mansion and exhibits, or even find out how to have your wedding here.
Online is where I was able to dive deeper into why and how the mansion and carriage house is being restored. The website proved useful before, during, and after exploring ASI in person. It is also a great way to keep up with what exhibits are showing!
Final Score
The main factors I take into consideration when scoring a site are accessibility, maintenance, available knowledge, online support, and my absolutely biased opinion of how much I enjoyed my experience. If I go with someone, I may consider their experience as well.
Accessibility 10/10
Maintenance 8/10
Available Knowledge 8/10
Online Support 10/10
Enjoyment 8/10
Final Score8.8/10
https://reframinghistory.wordpress.com/2022/11/13/american-swedish-institute/