We made a field trip to Karlstad in Varmland to learn more about what I refer to as the "Swedish Diaspora". In the late 19th Century and early 20th Century, nearly 1.3 million Swedes emigrated to America with the hopes of making their fortunes. The Värmlands Museum has an exhibit detailing the history of Värmland from the stone age to the modern era, including the period during which hundreds of thousands of Värmland residents left the forests and iron foundries and jumped on Trans Atlantic ships for the United States. For anyone with ancestral ties to this part of Sweden, this exhibit is an excellent way to learn more about the origins of your "people". The museum has multiple exhibits. We saw one on the photography of National Geographic, and another photography exhibit on Nelson Mandela's election. There is also another wing that has art by local? Swedish artists. Other than being art by Swedes, the gallery lacked focus and was too broad in scope. I think they need a new curator to put together a cohesive art exhibit... read more

See all