About the Daneville Heritage Museum
VISITING THE MUSEUM
HOURS AND ADMISSION
The current regular museum and office hours are:
Thursday and Friday, every 2nd and 4th Wednesday and every 1st and 3rd Saturday, 9 am - 2 pm. Closed on Monday, Tuesday and Sunday. Other times can be arranged for individuals, family groups, or organizations by calling the museum at 605-766-1312 during open hours (after hours leave message) or e-mailing the office at dham@vastbb.net anytime and leaving a name and
call-back number. There is NO admission fee for either individuals or groups.
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS
The Daneville Heritage Museum is located on the western edge of the downtown Viborg business district. The campus consists of three major buildings.
ORIGINAL BUILDING
CONTRIBUTIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS
Monetary contributions from many individuals, families, foundations, city government, and local organizations are what has made the Daneville Heritage Museum possible. Donation jars are located at the registration/guest-book table and in the office. Any monetary gifts are utilized to aid in defraying the monthly expenses related to electricity, water, and fuel as well as grounds keeping chores such as mowing, trimming, and snow removal. The museum board members and staff invite your membership and support. We would especially encourage an active support effort but also appreciate inactive memberships as well. Individual lifetime memberships are $15.00 while couples lifetime memberships are $25.00.
DONATIONS OF ARTIFACTS AND DOCUMENTS
Anyone in the Viborg area or formerly from the Viborg area is welcome to submit artifacts for permanent or temporary placement in the museum structures. The Daneville Heritage Association Board of Directors reserves the right to accept or reject any submitted artifacts. We prefer not to duplicate what is already on display in the museum. Documents, articles, and photographs may also be submitted for inclusion in family history files in the office. Also welcome are family genealogies and family photo albums for inclusion in our office library of scrapbook donations.
MAP OF GROUNDS
The original Gross Hatchery building, located at 101 North State Street, was constructed in 1933 by Joe Gross. An addition was constructed by Gross to the west end in 1937 and another addition as a part of the museum in 2010 which extended the structure west to the edge of the alley running north-and-south. However, what was once the main entrance into the museum former office area is now an emergency exit door only.
SCHOOLHOUSE
The 2nd building is the former Daneville Township District #46 school building from 1926 which is located at 106 North State Street across the street to the east from the First Baptist Church.
OUR NEWEST ADDITION
Our newest structure is the Danish barn-like main building located at 200 ½ W. Park Avenue across the street north from the Viborg-Hurley Elementary School parking lot. This building was dedicated on July 19th of 2018 during Danish Viking Days and the 125th anniversary celebration of the founding of Viborg in 1893. A transitional building connecting the 106 North State Street building and the new structure at 200 ½ W. Park Avenue contains short stairwells between floors and an elevator which goes to both levels of the new building and the main level of the original museum building.
