OAKLAND, Neb. (KOLN) – The Swedish Heritage Center in Oakland operates as a museum inside a former Swedish mission church founded by Julie Johnson’s great-grandfather.
Johnson says then it was a covenant church, and it then closed in 1986 due to lack of membership. It sat empty for two years before community members transformed it into a museum, Johnson said.
“Some wonderful people came on board and said, let’s make that into a museum,” Johnson said. “They got together and transformed it. All the beautiful artifacts in here from Sweden are all on gift or loan.”
The center houses Swedish folklore, dresses, plates, memorabilia and musical instruments from Sweden. Johnson said the museum recently received another Swedish Bible, which features a metal clasp.
“Every time you look around, you can see something that you had not seen before,” Johnson said. “We also have a lot of Oakland memorabilia here.”
Oakland holds the official designation as the “Swedish capital” of Nebraska, declared by Governor Kay Orr in 1987. Stromsburg holds the title of “Swede capital”.
Johnson said Swedish heritage defines Oakland’s identity. The community displays Dala horses around town, which serve as symbols for the province of Dalarna in Sweden and function as Oakland’s mascot.
Johnson operates a grocery store founded by her grandfather. It stocks Swedish imported foods. She uses Dala horses as a sort of calling card for her business as well.
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