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The Archives
What's in Here?
More Than a Building
The Danish Windmill is best known for its turning sails and working machinery, but its story reaches far beyond the mill itself. Handwritten ledgers, historic photographs, architectural drawings, newspapers, letters, and everyday objects preserve the people, decisions, and moments that brought the Windmill from Denmark to Iowa and have kept it thriving ever since.
The archive continues to grow as families, volunteers, and supporters contribute new discoveries. Some collections are ready to explore today, while others are still being carefully digitized, identified, and preserved. Every document, photograph, and artifact adds another piece to a story that is still being written.
Featured Object
HISTORY IN ITS OWN WORDS
Vestergaard Account Book
1914–1947
For more than thirty years, this handwritten ledger recorded the daily life of the mill. Every entry reflects a working relationship between the miller and local farmers, capturing the rhythm of a community that depended on wind power for everyday life.
Herman Christensen Portfolio
1922–1923
Sketches, measurements, and handwritten notes reveal the knowledge of a Danish millwright whose understanding of traditional construction later helped guide the reconstruction of the Danish Windmill in Elk Horn.
Arreskov Vindmolle Blueprints
1975
These detailed drawings preserve the design of a Danish windmill whose history is still being pieced together. They offer both a technical guide and a reminder that every archive still holds unanswered questions.
Photo collections
Captured on Camera
The story of the Danish Windmill did not disappear into memory. It was photographed every step of the way. These collections preserve the dismantling of the Windmill in Nørre Snede, the careful packing of every beam and gear, the journey across the Atlantic, and the remarkable reconstruction that brought the mill back to life in Elk Horn.
The photographs also reveal the people behind the project. Volunteers, craftsmen, engineers, donors, and local families appear throughout the collection, reminding us that preserving the Windmill was never the work of one person. It was a shared effort built on determination, craftsmanship, and thousands of hours of volunteer labor.
Beyond the move itself, the archive continues to document life at the Danish Windmill. Exhibits take shape, festivals fill the grounds, restoration projects unfold, and visitors create new memories. Each photograph captures a moment that can never be repeated, preserving not only the history of the Windmill but the community that continues to care for it.
As more collections are digitized and described, visitors will be able to explore this visual record in greater depth, discovering familiar faces, remarkable moments, and the ongoing story of the Danish Windmill through the people who have shaped it.
Publications
FOLLOW THE STORY
A Story Still Being Written
The Danish Windmill has long shared its story through newsletters, community publications, and historical features. Together, these publications document restoration projects, celebrations, new discoveries, and the people who have shaped the Windmill through the years. Read together, they become a living timeline of an organization that continues to grow.
The Breeze
Published quarterly, The Breeze offers a deeper look at preservation projects, member news, museum collections, Danish traditions, and the work taking place behind the scenes. Each issue captures another chapter in the ongoing story of the Danish Windmill.
Archive Stories
Older articles, restoration updates, newspaper coverage, and historical features reveal how the Danish Windmill has evolved over the decades. Together, they provide a window into the milestones, challenges, and accomplishments that shaped the organization visitors experience today.
Virtual exhibits
Explore the Windmill From Anywhere
The Danish Windmill's exhibits are designed to reward curiosity. Through interpretive panels, illustrations, maps, and interactive displays, visitors can discover how the Windmill works, trace its remarkable journey from Denmark to Iowa, explore Viking heritage, and uncover the stories woven throughout Danish culture.
This growing collection brings those exhibits online, making it possible to revisit your favorite displays, explore topics in greater depth, or begin your journey before you arrive. Whether you're planning a visit or continuing one, these virtual exhibits invite you to keep exploring.
Help Digitize
Every Scan Preserves Another Story
Scanning, naming, organizing, describing, and checking details all help the archive become easier to share responsibly. Volunteers can help turn stored material into public knowledge.