Vestnorsk Utvandringssenter — Attraction in Alver

The museum claims to be a museum about Norwegian emigrants, but it's really just a Norwegian-USA lovefest museum about the Norwegians that went to the USA. There's no information, content, buildings, books or displays about any of Norwegians that emigrated to 35+ other countries like Canada, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Australia, South Africa, the U.K., Sweden, etc. All it's efforts and monies have been used to tell the Norwegian emigrant story to the USA but omits the history of 200,000 Norwegians that chose other countries, and in some cases better countries to emigrate to than the USA. It doesn't even display the accurate emigrant information about Norwegians that emigrated to the USA. Shameful. In addition to being in the middle of nowhere, for soem strange reason includes the Canadian national flag flying, but has nothing at all to do with the country of Canada at this museum – except for one Norwegian-Canadian they have inaccurately listed as an American. Very amateur research and presentation, and disrespectful and inaccurate treatment of Canada at...

It's a long drive from Bergen but well worth it. If you are an American with Norwegian ancestry this is a great place to further explore your family tree and better understand the experience your family had when they established themselves in America. They have records of emigration from Norway and a friendly staff who are willing to help you out. Be sure to watch the video and go on the...

Don't bother visiting if you are Canadian or Norwegian-Canadian. The museum is just about Norwegian emigration to the United States. There's nothing there about Norwegian emigration to the Dominion of Canada or any artefacts or content. The museum isn't interested in content outside of the Norwegians that emigrated to the...