Just two short blocks off Copenhagen, sheltered from the bustle and quaint shops, is a unique house built in the style of the 18th century farmhouses of Jutland, Denmark. The soul of this house is The Elverhøj Museum, which nurtures a warm depiction of Solvang history and Danish culture.
  The house was built by Viggo Brandt-Erichsen, a self-taught Danish sculptor. In his twenties, he received some formal training as a member of Les Amis de Montparnasse in Paris, where he developed a close friendship with Pablo Picasso. In 1926, he emigrated to Jaffrey, New Hampshire where he met and married his wife Martha Mott, also an artist. In 1946, they headed west with their three children where they fell in love with the welcoming town of Solvang. In 1949, Viggo began to build their house in the Danish style he loved, and because of his artistic talent, the entire house was constructed in three years without blueprints, using only a scale model and sketches. Viggo built the artists’ studio with an eight-inch thick architecturally patterned floor and poured the fireplace in a single slab with relief panels showing Adam and Eve with Adam petting a Great Dane.
  Even the beautifully carved front door was crafted by Viggo. It depicts an elf spirit with her forest friends from a Danish folk play called Elverhøj (translated as “elves on a hill”), tellling of a King’s visit to the night world of dancing female woods spirits. “Elverhøj House quickly became a center for art and cultural events. Unfortunately, gentle, well-loved Viggo died in 1955, just three years after Elverhøj House was completed, but Martha lived in the house, painting and giving art classes until her death in the eighties. According to Martha’s wishes, in 1988 the home was dedicated as a museum of Danish heritage and culture and Solvang history.
  The Elverhøj retains its integrity as a home while presenting each of the original rooms as a small museum. Knowledgeable docents, often dressed in Danish costumes, greet you as you enter and answer questions throughout your visit. The cozy Kitchen is decorated with soft green panels of typical Danish farmhouse folk florals, hand-painted by Martha Brandt-Erichsen. In the corner is a peat-burning stove for cooking. In the Children’s Room are wonderful creations constructed by Viggo Brandt Erichsen—a charming dollhouse with real working lights and a gorgeous crib that he painted with scenes from the tales of Hans Christian Andersen. The Front Room is dominated by a Chickering piano that was once used for Easter sunrise services. There is also a traveling desk, an authentic Danish costume and a variety of artifacts from Solvang.
  Be sure to stop at the Front Room gift shop to take home a Danish magnet, plate, recipe book, children’s book or even a book about the Santa Ynez Valley. The variety of items available is wide and of excellent quality. All sales help maintain the museum.
Everything in the Early Room was made by hand and represents Danish home life before the industrial revolution. The displayed clothes were made hand woven from hand-spun wool, that could have been produced by the spinning wheel in the corner. The authentic Danish antique furnishings were created without any nails. At that time, furnishings, like the bench that converts to a trundle bed for children, were often multipurpose since houses were small.
  In contrast to the Early Room is the Best Room, the Danish counterpart to our early American Parlor. For both cultures, this room proudly displayed the family’s finest pieces of furniture and decorations and was used only for very special occasions. Because of this, even though they date back to 1890, the delicate vase that was a royal treasure of Denmark, a decorative parlor stove and a suite of furniture from old Copenhagen are in perfect condition.
  In the Old Solvang Room, many artifacts and pictures from the town’s early days tell its history, including many fine antiques that have been donated to the museum. Atterdag College, a classic Danish folk school built in Solvang by the original settlers is brought to life in pictures and models. This important community school was also a cultural center where lectures and town meetings were held for the whole community.   The Archival Video Project begins with a documentary of Atterdag College.
The former Art Studio is now a spacious gallery, where a magnificent bull sculpture by Viggo Brandt-Erichsen is on permanent display. Throughout the year, the gallery features exhibits in a variety of media, from stone sculpture to watercolor and paper cutting to photography.
  If you visit the Elverhøj on the weekend, you may see artists and artisans demonstrating their talents. You can learn to make abelskiver, watch needlework, lace making, weaving, woodcarving and paper cutting. Sometimes you can learn Danish dances on the lawn or listen to the tales of Hans Christian Andersen. (Call for dates and times of demonstrations.)
  Across the beautiful gardens behind the house, a unique Wooden Tower houses a bell donated to the museum by Bethania Lutheran Church in Solvang. It was originally from an ammunition factory, but rang for the church “for peace rather than war” until 1988. Past the bell, a Cottage contains a huge diorama that shows the early days of the Solvang village from 1911 to 1936. The tiny shops and houses are spread far apart as they were then, but you can see that the Danish look in the commercial area was not developed until 1946.
  The Elverhøj Museum is an important asset not only for Solvang, but also for the entire Santa Ynez Valley. It affords young people an opportunity to learn local history and sponsors the Solvang Elderhostel program for seniors. It provides a showcase for local, national and international art and introduces us to a wide variety of folk crafts and literature. And the Elverhøj gives us all an opportunity to glimpse the history of another era and to become familiar with international culture, thanks to the foresight and generosity of the Brandt-Erichsens.
  The Elverhøj Museum is two blocks south of the main commercial district at 1624 Elverhøj Way. It is within walking distance, but parking is available with limited space and time. Both parking and the building are handicap accessible. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Group tours may be arranged by contacting the museum at (805) 686-1211. For Internet information, go to www.elverhoj.org.
   

Elverhoy Gets New Director

  The Board of Directors of the Elverhoj Museum of History and Art is pleased to announce the appointment of Esther Jacobsen Bates to the position of Executive Director. Board president June Christiansen states, “Bates seems the perfect choice for the Elverhoj Museum. Her heritage, experience and enthusiasm will infuse the museum programs. We look forward to the synergy that has developed between the board and Esther.”
  Bates comes to the position from a background in the local non-profit community. Most recently, she spent nearly seven years with Arts Outreach. As program coordinator she implemented programs in all SY Valley elementary schools, hiring artists and working closely with administrators and teachers as well as creating after school and summer art programs.
  She also served as office manager and publicist and had extensive experience with fund raising, including working with David Crosby and the annual Valley Music Festival.
A Solvang native, Bates has deep ties to the community and a strong Danish heritage. She resides in Solvang with her husband, Mark, and children Jacob and Kristen.