In 1993 a group of Danevang residents and former residents formed the Danish Heritage Preservation Society with the purpose of preserving the heritage of the Danish immigrants who settled the community of Danevang beginning in 1894.  The Society bought three acres of land from the Danevang Lutheran Church at the corner of State Highway 71 and County Road 462.  Soon thereafter a residence built in 1898 was donated to the Society and was moved to the purchased site.  Over a period of several years it was repaired and restored to near the original configuration and was furnished with furniture and appliances from the time before 1920.  This house was designated

The Pioneer House.

At the same time planning and fund raising had begun for a museum building.  Construction was begun in 2000 on a building designed to resemble a typical Danish barn with a red roof. Alvin Jensen, a native of Danevang and a retired construction engineer, designed the building and supervised the construction.  The building was completed the following spring and was dedicated on June 1, 2001.  It contains approximately 5,000 square feet display area on the ground floor plus a kitchen and restroom facilities. The second floor has a meeting room , offices, and work space for processing the artifacts and setting up exhibits.

The Museum contains artifacts and exhibits related to the everyday lives of the pioneer settlers of Danevang.  The first exhibits near the entrance stress the ties that still exist  with the Mother Country of Denmark, and the Viking influence from the early years of the second millennium.  Other displays show the importance of the Danish Lutheran Church, the public schools and organized community recreation activities to the early settlers.  Since farming has always been the primary occupation in Danevang, the Museum shows samples of the crops that are grown in the area and the progression of the methods and equipment used for growing these crop.

A section of the exhibit area is set aside for descendants of the pioneer families of Danevang to put up exhibits showing the history of their families.  The families design and construct the exhibits and install them in this area.  Each family display remains in place for approximately one year and then is removed so that another family may use the space.

As well as inviting individuals and families to visit the museum and pioneer house, the Society also encourages tour groups to visit and enjoy the facilities.  By prior arrangements the Museum staff and volunteers will provide structured tours and activities for tour groups such as senior citizens organizations and school groups.  These activities can range from a tour of the Museum and Pioneer House with coffee and cookies provided, to a tour including also the Danevang Lutheran Church, community hall and cemetery, with a sit-down Danish meal in the museum.