One museum honors those who came to America looking for a better life.

Gammelgården Museum of Scandia honors Swedish immigrants who founded the community.

“That immigrant story is the same,” Tiffaney Clark with the museum said. “People are coming for some new opportunity, maybe escaping war or famine.”

The museum dates back to Annie Johnson, who lived on the land for decades. Johnson sold 11 acres to Elim Lutheran Church. More than 40 years ago several members of the church came together and opened Gammelgården.

“The church we have on property is the original Elim Lutheran Church,” Clark said. “It’s the longest-running Lutheran church. It has services every Sunday from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.”

People visit the museum from around the world.

“We usually get about 5,000 visitors a year,” Clark said. “They come mostly from here in the Twin Cities but I met people from New York, Pennsylvania, California. We get about 1,500 visitors from Sweden each year.”

Southeastern Minnesota’s karst landscape has many sinkholes, caves, springs and other features that can make it easier for contaminants, including nitrates, to seep into groundwater.  

Private well users can receive free water test kits to check for contamination with the option to apply for financial assistance in fixing any contamination. This can include installing water treatment equipment, fixing wells, or sometimes even installing a new well. 

The TAP-IN Program is run by Southeastern Minnesota Soil and Water Conservation Districts, county environmental services and county public health departments and is funded by the Minnesota Department of Health.

“It’s really our top priority to provide resources to those who haven’t been able to test for these contaminants in the past,” Olmsted County Water Resources Coordinator Caitlin Meyer says.  

Meyer adds that financial funding is limited and is first come, first serve with priority to those most affected by contaminated water, such as pregnant women or households with children under the age of 1.  

Testing kits are free to all private well users.  

Individuals can contact their local public health office or visit TAP-IN’s website for more information regarding eligibility and more.  

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Get out and enjoy the summer weather with a fun-filled weekend ahead in the Twin Cities. Enjoy Lumberjack Days in Stillwater, an art fair with a view of Minnehaha Falls, or the Hopkins Raspberry Festival. 

• Lowell Park, Stillwater
• July 19-21
• Free admission, VIP options are available

Head over to downtown Stillwater for their annual Lumberjack Days this weekend. The event will feature live music, a parade, BMX stunt shows, and you can even meet Paul Bunyan. Lumberjack Days will also feature local food and drink vendors, with VIP tastings available for purchase. For those looking to get active, there will be a 5K, 10K and a pickleball tournament. 

• Minnehaha Falls, Minneapolis
• July 19, 3-8 p.m., July 20, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Free admission

The Minnehaha Falls Art Fair will feature local artists and vintage items for sale. There will also be several food trucks, and an on-site restaurant to enjoy. Live entertainment and activities for the kids will fill the fair as well. Plan a free ride using Metro Transit’s light rail or bus line. Free passes are on the fair’s website here. 

• Mainstreet and Central Park in Hopkins
• July 17-21
• Free admission

Enjoy the multiple-day Raspberry Festival in Hopkins this week and into the weekend. There will be multiple events during the festival, including the Raspberry Jam in Central Park on Saturday, which includes music, games, crafts, food trucks and much more. Earlier on Saturday there will be a Marketplace Fair that will feature local businesses, artists, food and beverages. 

• Downtown Hastings
• July 19-21
• Admission: $20-$25; kids 15 and under are free

Head to downtown Hastings for a big block party. Rivertown Days will have several stages of live music, carnival rides and free family events around town. You will need to purchase a ticket to get to the carnival rides and live music. There will also be an arts and crafts fair, plenty of food and beer tents for people of all ages to enjoy. 

• Bauhaus Brew Labs
• July 20, 2-10 p.m.
• Free admission

Head to Bauhaus this weekend for some beer and dancing. Disko Fever will feature live disco music and room for dancing. A pop-up vintage market will be featured at the event for those who want to shop while taking a break from dancing.