Preserving Sisseton History with the Stavig House Museum

Stavig House stands as a testament to the immigrant experience in America. Nestled in the heart of America.

Built in 1916 by Andrew Stavig, the eldest son of a Norwegian immigrant, this stately Queen Anne home tells the universal story of an immigrant family coming to America for a better life. 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, leaving a lasting mark on the community of Sisseton. For 80 years, the Stavig House remained in the family, preserving their rich history before being transformed into an immigrant museum.

In 1996, thanks to the vision and generosity of Mathilda Stavig (1904–1994), Andrew’s daughter and lifelong resident of the home, the house was gifted to the Heritage Museum of the Coteau des Prairies. Today, it stands as a living tribute to the resilience, ambition and artistry of immigrant families who helped shape the American Midwest.

Pat Gallagher, Community Development Coordinator for South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) joined John and Jane Rasmussen, Board President and Board Director of the Stavig House Museum to discuss their work preserving the Stavig House for generations to come. 

In 2024, the Stavig House Museum completed fundraising more than $120,000 to establish a permanent endowment fund at SDCF and was awarded $20,000 in matching funds from SDCF’s Nonprofit Savings Account grant program. Endowment funds are invested over time and earnings create a long-term revenue source to support the organization.

John and Jane set down the path of creating lasting funding for the Stavig House when the museum received a gift of $50,000 from a man who felt he owed all he had learned about entrepreneurship to the Stavig Bros. “We had this gift, and we wanted to make the most of it and really amplify it,” said John.

“We knew about the Nonprofit Savings Account match gift from SDCF, and so we thought, ‘let’s just do this. Let’s see if we can grow this gift,’ and the rest is history.”

With the support of the Sisseton community, the Rasmussens successfully raised the funds needed to establish the endowment fund. They encourage anyone looking to make a difference in their community to take that next step and partner with SDCF. “This process has given us the confidence in our vision, and it’s been nothing but positive,” shared Jane. 

The Stavig House itself is a masterpiece of early 20th-century craftsmanship, attracting architectural students from South Dakota State University to study its well-preserved Scandinavian-style design. Beyond craftsmanship, the rich history of the Stavig Family has intrigued many, including a Norwegian history professor eager to learn more about Norwegian immigrant stories. 

“It is really fortunate that the home stayed in the Stavig family since the time it was built in 1916, and they chose not to modernize it over the years,” shared Jane. “This preservation reflects a different era and time, which is quite special.”

The Stavig House Museum proudly displays the Stavig Letters, a collection of more than 150 letters written between two brothers, Lars Stavig, who emigrated to America, and Knut Stavig, who stayed in Norway. These letters, which span five decades, have even served as inspiration for the Readers Theater production of The Stavig Letters: The Story of a Norwegian Immigrant as well as an Emmy-award-winning documentary produced by South Dakota Public Broadcasting.

The Stavig House stands as an important beacon in the Sisseton community, offering inspiration and a connection to the past. Thanks to the support of the community, and John and Jane’s dedicated work, the Stavig House will continue to tell the story of immigrant life in South Dakota for generations to come.

To learn more about the Stavig House, visit their website here: https://www.sissetonmuseum.com/stavig-house