Join us in celebration of Norwegian Constitution Day at the largest 17th of May parade in the United States! We are excited to announce that the Nordic Spirit will be participating in the parade this year. This is the first major public appearance of the boat, and we expect it to be profound and inspirational.
If you would like to march alongside the boat in the Syttende Mai parade, come to the Nordic Heritage Museum by 2:00 on Sunday, May 17th. Be sure to fill out and bring the Individual Hold Harmless portion of the parade application with you. The parade begins at 4:00, and we are one of the first entries, so there will be plenty of time to enjoy the parade after we march down! We encourage anyone who marches to wear their Bunad or folk costume, or red or blue clothing.
If you have any questions, please give me a call at 206-789-5707 ex 27 or email at jasonh@nordicmuseum.org.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Help us finish restoring the Nordic Spirit!
If you've been itching to get up close with the Nordic Spirit, now is your chance. We are offering two opportunities for you to work with local artisans and boat builders to finish restoring the Nordic Spirit: Saturday April 18 from 10-4 and Saturday April 25 from 10-4.
Space is limited, so if you want a chance to work on the boat, please contact me at 206-789-5707 ex 27 or jasonh@nordicmuseum.org.
Space is limited, so if you want a chance to work on the boat, please contact me at 206-789-5707 ex 27 or jasonh@nordicmuseum.org.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Volunteer opportunities!
If you've been dying to get up-close and personal with the Nordic Spirit, now is your chance: we will be holding a few weekend work parties in April. If you would like a chance to sand, scrape, clean and oil the hull, contact Jason Herrington at jasonh@nordicmuseum.org, or at (206) 789-5707 ex 27.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Culture and Heritage Day
Come sample Norwegian food, song, dance and handicrafts at Culture and Heritage Day at Leif Erikson Lodge in Ballard this Saturday the 28th from 10:00 - 4:00. I will be leading tours of the Nordic Spirit at Pacific Fishermen's Shipyard at 11:30 and 1:30. Tell your friends! It is sure to be a great event.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Souvenirs and Stories recap
Janet and I spent some time at the Museum of History and Industry this weekend for Souvenirs and Stories day. We were a bit anxious about moving the Nordic Spirit for the first time, but we got arrived at Montlake without issue.
Stephen Lundgren volunteered to brave the wind and rain and talk to visitors about the history of the Nordic Spirit and its future. Helen Divjak deserves a special thanks for inviting us to participate.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Souvenirs and Stories: A Salute to 1909
Join us at the Museum of History and Industry for Souvenirs and Stories: A Salute to 1909 this Saturday, March 14 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. The Nordic Spirit will be on display in MOHAI’s lower parking lot.
The Museum of History and Industry is located McCurdy Park at 2700 24th Ave. E, Seattle, WA 98112. For more information call MOHAI at 206-324-1126 or the Nordic Heritage Museum at 206-789-5707.
The Museum of History and Industry is located McCurdy Park at 2700 24th Ave. E, Seattle, WA 98112. For more information call MOHAI at 206-324-1126 or the Nordic Heritage Museum at 206-789-5707.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
A guest post from Michael Herschensohn
It is simply thrilling to watch the effort by the Nordic Heritage Museum to restore the wooden ship in its collection as part of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition Centennial Celebration. It is a powerful reminder of the role of Seattle’s Nordic communities in the creation and success of the A-Y-P.
The effort also recalls the rekindled interest in ancient Viking ships that took place following the 1880 discovery and excavation of the "Gokstad." In an oblique way, it also reminds us that much of what happened at the A-Y-P was not unique to Washington State or Seattle. Indeed, like many buildings, events and activities of Seattle’s great fair, the Viking ship that sailed from Kirkland to the A-Y-P boat landing on Portage Bay repeated on a much smaller scale a similar ship at the 1893 Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition.
For that giant world’s fair, a close copy of the 8th-century Gokstad ship, called "Viking," was built at Christen Christensen’s Framnes Shipyard in Sandefjord. The ship was 24 meters long, 5 meters wide, with a mast 15 meters high, and equipped with a 9 by 12.5 meter sail. It had holes for 16 pairs of oars and cost 12,000 kroner.
Proving that Leif Eriksson could have made the trip to America 500 years before Columbus, the Viking sailed all the way from Bergen on April 30, 1893. It arrived on June 13, 1893, at New London, Connecticut (44 days). From New London, it made its way to the Hudson River, crossed New York State on the Erie Canal and then navigated the Great Lakes to Chicago. Following the fair,the Norwegian government donated the ship to the people of Chicago, where it was displayed in Lincoln Park for 100 years. It is the single largest surviving object from the 1893 exposition. It now languishes sadly on private land in Geneva, Ill., far from the windy city.
You can find more about that ship at http://www.nnleague.org/vikingship.htm. The links at the bottom of the page are especially informative.
The Viking at the Columbian Exposition:
The earliest known image of a Viking ship, from the Bayeux Tapestry, an eleventh-century embroidered history of events preceding the 1066 Norman invasion of England:
After serving as Executive Director of The Children's Museum, The Museum of History and Industry and Northwest Folklife, Michael is now coordinating the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Centennial Celebration, where he supervises no one. Eons ago, he earned a Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literature. He capped that degree with a Masters in Architectural History and Preservation Planning. Michael was born in New York.
The Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition (AYP) Centennial Celebration is a project of the Seattle Mayor's Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs and 4Culture, King County's Cultural Services Agency, in collaboration with dozens of organizations and individuals around the region. Visit the AYP Centennial Celebration website at: http://ayp100.org/.
The effort also recalls the rekindled interest in ancient Viking ships that took place following the 1880 discovery and excavation of the "Gokstad." In an oblique way, it also reminds us that much of what happened at the A-Y-P was not unique to Washington State or Seattle. Indeed, like many buildings, events and activities of Seattle’s great fair, the Viking ship that sailed from Kirkland to the A-Y-P boat landing on Portage Bay repeated on a much smaller scale a similar ship at the 1893 Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition.
For that giant world’s fair, a close copy of the 8th-century Gokstad ship, called "Viking," was built at Christen Christensen’s Framnes Shipyard in Sandefjord. The ship was 24 meters long, 5 meters wide, with a mast 15 meters high, and equipped with a 9 by 12.5 meter sail. It had holes for 16 pairs of oars and cost 12,000 kroner.
Proving that Leif Eriksson could have made the trip to America 500 years before Columbus, the Viking sailed all the way from Bergen on April 30, 1893. It arrived on June 13, 1893, at New London, Connecticut (44 days). From New London, it made its way to the Hudson River, crossed New York State on the Erie Canal and then navigated the Great Lakes to Chicago. Following the fair,the Norwegian government donated the ship to the people of Chicago, where it was displayed in Lincoln Park for 100 years. It is the single largest surviving object from the 1893 exposition. It now languishes sadly on private land in Geneva, Ill., far from the windy city.
You can find more about that ship at http://www.nnleague.org/vikingship.htm. The links at the bottom of the page are especially informative.
The Viking at the Columbian Exposition:
The earliest known image of a Viking ship, from the Bayeux Tapestry, an eleventh-century embroidered history of events preceding the 1066 Norman invasion of England:
After serving as Executive Director of The Children's Museum, The Museum of History and Industry and Northwest Folklife, Michael is now coordinating the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Centennial Celebration, where he supervises no one. Eons ago, he earned a Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literature. He capped that degree with a Masters in Architectural History and Preservation Planning. Michael was born in New York.
The Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition (AYP) Centennial Celebration is a project of the Seattle Mayor's Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs and 4Culture, King County's Cultural Services Agency, in collaboration with dozens of organizations and individuals around the region. Visit the AYP Centennial Celebration website at: http://ayp100.org/.
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