STAVIG HOUSE HISTORY

“If these walls could talk…”
The Stavig House, built in 1916 by the son of a Norwegian immigrant, tells the universal story of a typical immigrant family coming to America for a better life. Andrew Stavig, the eldest son in the family, designed the house and raised his family there. The house remained in the Stavig family for 80 years before becoming an immigrant museum. Andrew and his brothers established a successful mercantile business on Sisseton’s main street in 1898. Stavig Bros, Inc. served the area for 100 years from 1898-1998.

The Victorian home has its own architectural story to tell. The exterior features include a three-story tower and a wrap around front porch. The interior design incorporates more of the Arts and Crafts style. The quality craftsmanship of its Scandinavian builders is reflected in the design of the wood floors throughout the house, the open staircase, and the thirty-plus window groupings found throughout the seventeen rooms of the house. The house is listed on the National Historic Register.

The house was bequeathed to the Heritage Museum of the Coteau des Prairies by Andrew’s daughter Mathilda (1904-1994) who lived in the house throughout her life. The house opened as a museum in l996.

See gallery for photos