OAKLAND, Neb. (KOLN) – The Swedish Heritage Center in Oakland operates as a museum inside a former Swedish mission church founded by Julie Johnson\u2019s great-grandfather.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome wonderful people came on board and said, let\u2019s make that into a museum,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cThey got together and transformed it. All the beautiful artifacts in here from Sweden are all on gift or loan.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery time you look around, you can see something that you had not seen before,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cWe also have a lot of Oakland memorabilia here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Oakland holds the official designation as the \u201cSwedish capital\u201d of Nebraska, declared by Governor Kay Orr in 1987. Stromsburg holds the title of \u201cSwede capital\u201d.<\/p>\n
Johnson said Swedish heritage defines Oakland\u2019s identity. The community displays Dala horses around town, which serve as symbols for the province of Dalarna in Sweden and function as Oakland\u2019s mascot.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n