One of the big draws in Minot – aside from the Blue Beacon Truck Wash – is the Scandinavian Heritage Park.
It was a beautiful, sunny day to explore this park that is believed to be the only park in the world celebrating all five Nordic countries: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. The park was established in 1988 to celebrate and preserve Scandinavian heritage. The first building was dedicated in 1990.
This adorable building isn’t a cottage or a family home. It’s a storehouse. The plaque on it proclaimed “STABBUR”. I thought it was a family name, but my inquiring mind made me check. “Stabbur” is the Norwegian word for storehouse.
This is a replica of a building from Torvetjonn, constructed in 1750, a farm near Mosvann in Telemark, Norway. It is considered a major work in Norwegian folk architecture.
There is an enormous Dala Horse watching over the park.
The Dala Horse is the national symbol of Sweden. Although horses have been important in Sweden for at least 4000 years, according to my research, the earliest references to wooden horses for sale are from 1623. It wasn’t until the World Exhibition in New York in 1939 that the Dala wooden horse became famous around the world.
A giant painted Dala horse was placed outside the Swedish pavilion and caused a sensation among the visitors. During the year after the exhibition, 20,000 Dala horses were shipped over to New York, and the Swedish Dala horse became a symbol for Sweden.
This is a full-sized replica of the Stave Church from Gol, Hallingdal, Norway. About 100 years ago, the original church was moved from Gol to the Folk Museum in Bygdol Park in Oslo, Norway.
It’s quite the structure.
I walked around it, hoping to catch a glimpse of the interior.
The details are awesome.
I did find an open door. As I remember, the interior was nowhere near as interesting as the exterior. I don’t have any photos of it, so maybe it was too dark to take a decent shot.
I crossed over a little bridge. During the summer, I imagine that there is water in the pond. I don’t suppose there is ever any lutefisk swimming there. I arrived at the Danish Windmill.
This windmill was built in 1928 in Powers Lake, North Dakota. Carl Olson erected it to supply water and to grind wheat for the family.
There was this boulder given a place of prominence on a concrete. The plaque read, “E.D. Schmit’s Rock of Ages”. It was moved from Dickinson Farm N.E, of Surrey by Billy Schrlock and Roald Matison. Perhaps more information was posted somewhere, but I don’t remember seeing it.
There was a statue of Leif Eiriksson, Icelandic explorer. The plaque reads, “This statue is dedicated in honor of our Icelandic Ancestors who came to American. the Diligence and high moral standard of these people have been an inspiration to those who followed.”
The Scandinavians appreciate their athletes. Here’s a statue of Casper Oimoen, who was born in Valders, Norway. He was quite the ski jumper. In addition to regional and state championships, he was also on the U.S. Olympic team in 1932 and 1936. He was even the captain of the team one year.
Then there is Sondre Norheim, the father of modern skiing. He was born in Telemark, Norway, obviously emigrated to American, and died in McHenry County, North Dakota.
There is also an eternal flame dedicated to Sondre Norheim. There are five alumnin skis, which symbolize the five Scandinavian countries. They support a world globe which represents the many contributions to the sport of skiing that he gave to the world.
The flame was lit by Lars Berge Haugann of Morgedal, Norway on December 4, 1993. A flame from the fireplace of Norheim’s birthplace was transported to Minot by North Dakota Governor Edward Schafer. I wonder how they managed to get the fire there? Airplane? Boat?
And what would a park dedicated to Scandinavian culture be without honoring Hans Christian Andersen? He wrote more than 200 stories, including The Ugly Duckling and The Little Mermaid.
I was in luck! Another visitor happened by just at that time and agreed to take my photo with Hans.
And with that, it was time to see what else I could discover in Minot.