News and Events
Norwegian Ambassador Tours North Dakota Heritage Center During Visit Across State
Posted 7/29/13 (Mon)
The Norwegian Ambassador to the United States, Wegger Strømmen, and his wife, Cecilie visited the Heritage Center July 29 as part of their week's vacation through North Dakota. In addition to touring the expansion project, they also were able to see several artifacts in the SHSND's collections, including American Indian artifacts and items from Norwegian immigrants. Ambassador Strømmen has given his support to the campaign by North Dakota's Sons of Norway Lodges to raise $100,000 to name a meeting room at the North Dakota Heritage Center in honor of their Norwegian heritage.
According to the State Data Center, North Dakotans of Norwegian descent comprise 31 percent of the state's present population, the highest percentage of any state in the country.
"The meeting room will honor those who migrated to this country and settled in North Dakota," says Derle Marchus of Bismarck, who is spearheading the campaign. "This is a one-time opportunity to recognize the parents and grandparents of North Dakota's Norwegians."
Those who contribute to this campaign will have their name listed in a kiosk near the entrance of the expanded Heritage Center. The $52 million expansion will double the size of the state museum, adding new galleries, visitor services, programming, collections storage, labs and office space. It will be completed in time for North Dakota's 125th anniversary of statehood in November 2014.
For more information on the campaign, contact Marchus at (701) 391-8011 or the SHSND Foundation at (701) 222-1966.