THE ALTHING
All things Scandinavian.
CULTURE
Thorsby Swedish Fest
PO Box 608
Thorsby, Alabama 35171
205-646-8501
www.thorsbyswedishfestival.com/home.html
Gotta love redneck Vikings, especially being one myself. One doesn't expect to find a Swedish enclave in the middle of Alabama, but looks like these folks do it up right.
Little Norway
Petersburg, Alaska 99833
907-772-4636
www.petersburg.org/visitor/littlenorway.html
This looks like a multi-day Norwegian party. Everybody's having a lot of fun in all the pics. Long way up there, but worth going at least once, I would think.
The Asatru Alliance
PO Box 961
Payson, Arizona 85547
www.asatru.org
According to their website, Asatru means belief in the gods. Adherents still follow the old Norse gods. Thanks to William Bakke for this link.
The Danish American Club in Orange County
California www.danishamericanclub.org
This is a well established Danish American organization located in Orange County California. Contact information is minimal.
Department of Scandinavian - UC Cal Berkeley
6303 Dwinelle Hall
Berkeley, California 94720
510-642-4484
scandinavian.berkeley.edu
I had no idea such a place existed, totally devoted to the study of Scandinavian culture.
Danish Sisterhood of America
814 South Sherbourne Drive - #7
Los Angeles, California 90035
www.danishsisterhood.org
I'm nearly 56 and I had never heard of this organization. Looks like a pretty interesting group doing a lot of good stuff.
Young Scandinavians Club
PO Box 640610
San Francisco, California 94164
415-346-7450
ysc.org
They must have enough young Scandinavians in the San Francisco area to have a club, and an interesting one at that, with a pretty decent looking schedule of events throughout the year.
Elverhøj Museum of History and Art
1624 Elverhoy Way - PO Box 769
Solvang, California 93464
805-686-1211
www.elverhoj.org
I love most art museums, and this looks like a good one. It has the added bonus of including a lot of Danish American history.
Scandinavian American Cultural and Historical Foundation
26 Faculty Road
Thousand Oaks, California 91360
805-241-0391
scandinaviancenter.org/
The stated goal of these folks is to preserve and promote Scandinavian Heritage and Culture for the education and enjoyment of present and future generations, and to become the center for Scandinavian culture in the Southwestern United States.
Scandinavian Alliance of Colorado
1754 Southard Drive
Erie, Colorado 80516
www.scandinavianallianceofcolorado.org
This is an umbrella organization for a variety of Scandinavian groups in Colorado. They put on a big festival every year. I'll be checking this out further.
Finnish-American Chamber of Commerce - Florida Chapter
523 Lake Avenue
Lake Worth, Florida 33460
561-582-2335
facc-fl.com
Per their website, this Florida based organization looks to promote and protect interests and relations between Finland and the United States.
Swedish Club of Sarasota
5824 Pomarine Court
Sarasota, Florida 34238
941-705-7700
www.swedishclubsarasota.org
Promoting Swedish American relations, Florida Gulf coast style.
Danish America Chamber of Commerce Georgia
3630 Peachtree Road Northeast - Suite 920
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
877-234-7679
www.daccusa.org
An organization taking a comprehensive approach to relations in Georgia between Danes and Americans.
Atlanta Suomi Finland Society
PO Box 768231
Roswell, Georgia 30076
www.atlantafinlandsociety.org
Here's an organization working to maintain Finnish culture in the deep south.
Danish American Athletic Club
15 North Hickory Street
Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004
847-949-6667
www.daac.info
I will resist any cracks about great Danish athletes. I know they're out there. Oddly this club meets at a Knights of Columbus hall, but their stated objective is to preserve Danish culture in America.
Dania Society of Chicago
17W034 Bryn Mawr
Bensenville, Illinois 60106
daniachicago.org
This is a seriously old Danish society in Chicago. They've been around a long time, with a lot of history.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
8765 West Higgins Road
Chicago, Illinois 60631
800-638-3522
www.elca.org
The biggest Luthern church in America.
Swedish Days
528 East Side Drive
Geneva, Illinois 60134
847-845-2640
www.swedishday.net
This festival looks very well run, with backing from the town as well as corporate sponsors.
Danish American Language Foundation
PO Box 748
Saint Charles, Illinois 60174
847-949-6667
dalf.us
Here's a group trying to preserve Danish language culture. I know my family followed a typical pattern. My great grandfather came here speaking Danish and learned a few English words. My grandfather was truly bilingual. My Dad spoke English and just a few Danish words.
Tivoli Fest
Elk Horn, Iowa 712-764-2123
www.danishvillages.com/tivoli-fest-julefest
Looks like a pretty cool spring festival. They also do one in the fall. I'll try to some more information.
Museum of Danish America
2212 Washington Street
Elk Horn, Iowa 51531
712-764-7001
www.danishmuseum.org/index.cfm
Looks like a nice museum of Danish immigration, as well as an interesting looking genealogical library.
The Finnish Center at Saima Park
Fitchburg, Massachusetts www.saima-park.org
At first glance, there might not seem like there's much to this place, but browse around their web site and you will see they have a great deal going on. Look for the photo of The Moon Man Gnome. Pretty cool. Thanks to Karl Hakkarainen for the link.
Raivaaja Foundation
640 Townsend Road
Groton, Massachusetts 01450
978-345-3822
www.raivaaja.org
An impressive looking and well established Finnish culture organization.
Finnish Heritage Society Sovittaja
PO Box 373
Rutland, Massachusetts 01543
www.sovittaja.org
Though they only went online in 2009, the FHSS has been in existence, in one form or another, for over one hundred years. Looks like they have some real nice programs and events throughout the year. Thanks to Karl Hakkarainen for telling me about these folks.
The Danish Festival
PO Box 211
Greenville, Michigan 48838
616-754-6369
www.danishfestival.org
This town takes its Danish heritage seriously. They've been doing this since 1965. I'll have to try and get up there one year.
Finnish American Heritage Center
435 Quincy Street
Hancock, Michigan 49930
906-482-5300
www.finlandia.edu/fahc
This center is associated with Finlandia University and is dedicated to perpetuating the Finnish language and preserving the Finnish experience in North America.
Leif Erikson Viking Ship
PO Box 411
Duluth, Minnesota 55801
leiferiksonvikingship.com
A website dedicated to the Leif Erikson Viking ship restoration.
American Swedish Institute
2600 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55407
612-871-4907
www.asimn.org
One of the premier Swedish-American cultural organizations. Thanks to Jim Allen for letting us know about them.
Sons of Norway
1455 W. Lake Street
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55408
612-827-3611
www.sofn.com
There can be no doubt that the Sons of Norway are the grand-daddies of Scandinavian cultural organizations in the United States. They have to be the oldest, they have to be the biggest, and they have to be the most comprehensive in where they are and what they do.
Norway House
913 East Franklin Avenue
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404
612-871-2211
norwayhouse.org
This is a cultural organization looking to promote relations of all kinds between Norway and the United States.
Hjemkomst Center
202 1st Avenue North
Moorhead, Minnesota 56560
218-299-5511
www.hcscconline.org
Part of a county historical society, this interesting place features the Hjemkomst Viking ship and the Hopperstad Stave Church. Very cool looking.
The Norwegian American Historical Association
1510 Saint Olaf Avenue
Northfield, Minnesota 55057
507-786-3221
www.naha.stolaf.edu
Now this organization has some serious street cred. They are located on the campus of St. Olaf College and their first secretary was Ole E. Rolvaag, author of Giants in the Earth. They've been around since 1925.
The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
1333 South Kirkwood Road
Saint Louis, Missouri 63122
888-843-5267
www.lcms.org
our brothers and sisters in the Missouri Synod.
Grundlovsfest
PO Box 25
Dannebrog, Nebraska 68831
308-226-2506
www.dannebrognebraska.org/festivals.php
Another cool looking small town festival. Gotta love the town's name. They also do an annual Christmas festival.
Oakland Swedish Festival
228 North Oakland Avenue
Oakland, Nebraska 68045
402-685-5706
www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~neburt/festival/festival.html
Small town festival only held on odd numbered years, but still looks like it could be fun.
The Swedish Festival
Stromsburg, Nebraska 402-764-5265
www.theswedishfestival.com
Looks like a very cool small town Swedish Festival. Not a lot of contact information, but they've been doing it for a long time, apparently.
Scanfest
1 Wolfe Road
Budd Lake, New Jersey 07828
www.scanfest.org
For almost thirty years, Scanfest has been the place to be for a full on celebration of all things Nordic. Much thanks to Bruce and Patti Campbell for tipping us off.
The Danish American Society
136 East 76th Street - Apt.8D
New York, New York 10021
danishamericansocietyusa.org/
The photos on their website have some illustrious personages from over the years. Looks a bit high brow, perhaps. You know how those Danes can be.
The American-Scandinavian Foundation
58 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10016
212-779-3587
www.amscan.org
Headquartered at Scandinavia House in New York, the ASF works to bring Scandinavian culture to the United States through a variiety of programs.
Scandinavian Heritage Association
1020 South Broadway - PO Box 862
Minot, North Dakota 58702
701-852-9161
scandinavianheritage.org
This looks like a cool place to visit, with some serious architecture to look at.
Norsk Høstfest
Box 1347
Minot, North Dakota 58702
701-852-2368
hostfest.com/
North America's largest Scandinavian festival attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year. This looks like an awful lot of fun, and something I definitely want to go to before I head off to Valhalla.
Finnish Heritage Museum
PO Box 1121 - 301 High Street
Fairport Harbor, Ohio 44077
440-352-8301
finnishheritagemuseum.org
A vigorous looking Finnish-American organization with museum and a regular slate of events.
Mt. Jewett Swedish Festival
PO Box 7215
Mt. Jewett, Pennsylvania 16740
814-778-5701
Looks like a fun festival up in northern Pennsylvania. They don't seem to have a website, as fewer places do these days, existing more on social media. Might be something I'll have to address here.
American Swedish Historical Museum
1900 Pattisson Avenue
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19145
215-389-1776
www.americanswedish.org/welcome.htm
Looks like a fun place to visit. They have a busy calendar of stuff going on throughout the year.
Danish Days
44402 295th Street
Irene, South Dakota 57037
605-263-2057
danishdays.com
Viborg, South Dakota hosts what looks like one big, bad ass Danish festival. Definitely on my to do list.
Norwegian Society of Texas
7010 CR 309
Cranfills Gap, Texas 76637
www.norwegiansocietyoftexas.org
Norwegians got it going on over in Texas. Multiple local chapters.
Bosque County Chapter - Norwegian Society of Texas
PO Box 114
Cranfills Gap, Texas 76637
bosquecountynst.org
This website caught my eye, because Clifton, Texas is designated the Norwegian Capital of Texas. It is home to the Norse Historic District, and the last resting place of Cleng Peerson, Father of Norwegian Immigration to America. We're everywhere. Thanks to D'Ann Herrod for putting me on to this place.
Icelandic Association of Utah
PO Box 874
Spanish Fork, Utah 84660
davidsicelandicblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/icelandic-association-of-utah.html
Looks like a thriving little association out in Utah. Kind of an austere looking website, but that's appropriate, no?
Nordic Heritage Museum
3014 NW 67th Street
Seattle, Washington 98117
206-789-5707
nordicmuseum.org
Very nice looking urban museum of Nordic Heritage. Lots of interesting programming in a variety of subjects. I love the Pacific Northwest, and this is just another reason to go back.
the NORWEGIAN american
17713 15th Avenue Northeast - #205
Shoreline, Washington 98155
206-784-4617
www.norwegianamerican.com
North America's only Norwegian-American newspaper.
Norden Folk
PO Box 522
Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54702
www.visitnordenfolk.org
Formerly known as the Midwest Institute of Scandinavian Culture, they're been around since 1960 (like me) and they have some very interesting cultural resources, including some genealogy links I'll be checking out.