Five Fun Facts about Decorah:
• Decorah was named for Chief Waukon Decorah. Decorah was a Ho Chunk Indian who cooperated with white settlers during the Black Hawk War.
• The town is centrally located between three major U.S. cities: Minneapolis, MN; Madison, WI; and Chicago, IL, which is ideal for students seeking a weekend getaway.
• The town is rich in Norwegian history, and holds a “Nordic Fest” every summer involving food, crafts, and music from Norway.
• Near the college is the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, the biggest museum in the country devoted to a single immigrant group; this is featured in the course Paideia at Luther.
• The Decorah area is home to the largest Capon (castrated chicken) producing plant in the world.
Famous People from Decorah:
Georgann Johnson (actress), Weston Noble (music educator), Mark Pinter (actor)
Local Slang:
Nordic Fest – A midsummer gathering that features Norwegian culture and (more importantly) town-wide beer tents. Many Luther students journey back in the summer to this event to see friends.
Mabe’s – The greatest pizza in town, serving all varieties and other food as well. By far the most popular restaurant in town.
Townie – A local you may meet in the bar that might want to make small talk; also called “regulars.” They’re generally harmless, though, like grizzly bears, they will attack when provoked.
Tubing – This event involves floating down the majestic Upper Iowa River with your friends on rentable tubes. Depending on where you enter the river, the trip can be made in under an hour to up to six hours; a variety of land beaches along the way allow for a picnic, a break, or an impromptu party spot.