Day 4: Midsommarfest Preparations & the Brunk's Children Museum of Immigration

Every year, Andersonville hosts Midsommarfest, a celebration of the community's Scandinavian heritage. This year, it was June 8th - 9th. This annual event includes vendors, dancing, and food, advertising Andersonville's many restaurants. There is also a long list of music groups performing, both Swedish and non-Swedish. Naturally, the Swedish American Museum has a large role in the festivities, particularly activities for children. There were tables where they could learn to make paper flower wreaths to wear. There was also a Maypole, which Swedes perform customary dances around. I spent my day in the Brunk Children's Museum of Immigration, helping make flower wreaths to be sold in the shop.

Swedish colors!

I took this opportunity to become acquainted with the Children's Museum. In 2011, it was named one of the best "hands-on exhibits for every kind of kid" in Chicago Magazine's "best of Chicago list.*"

I think I may have found a new hobby.

Although limited in space, it offered an assortment of creative and educational activities. It's divided into two parts: "Sweden" and "America." The Swedish side has a Scandinavian Falu red house, which strongly resembled a barn. Inside was an old-fashioned kitchen; outside were animals enclosed by a white picket fence. Also outside were traditional aprons that the children were permitted to wear. In between the two "countries" was a ship that had paddles attached to it. The sea had magnetized fish that could be "caught" with little fishing poles that had metal washers on the end. Fishing was a large industry in Sweden, followed closely by carpentry, which was represented in the "American" side of the Museum. There, children fought over hauling water from the well outside a small log cabin. The house was reminiscent of the pioneer lifestyle the Swedish led in the U.S. There was also a Dala-style horse that children were permitted to ride. Dalarna, a region in Sweden, is known for its painted horse statues and toys. Andersonville has its own Dala Horse statue, painted Swedish blue with the Chicago skyline. Usually, it is located outside of the Museum, but it is currently undergoing renovations. 

In the very back of the Museum was an area that was sectioned off. The docent at the Children's Museum, clad in traditional clothing, told me that the new exhibit would be space-themed, in honor of Christer Fuglesang. Fuglesang was a celebrated Swedish physicist and ESA astronaut, and the first Swedish citizen to travel to outer space.

The Children's Museum and Midsommarfest accomplish two things: attract tourists to the Swedish American Museum and educate the public on Swedish culture and history. The museum activities, in turn, provide traffic and tourism for the Andersonville community. These are an incentive for the neighborhood to sponsor and support the museum which, for a non-profit organization, is essential.

*http://www.swedishamericanmuseum.org/childrensmuseum/