By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
2025 marks a milestone year for Norwegian Americans, as it represents the bicentennial of the organized migration from Norway to North America. On July 4th, 1825, a group of 52 Norwegians set sail for America. Hundreds of thousands, or nearly a third of Norway, would follow, changing both countries. Today, nearly 5 million claim Norwegian ancestry.
To commemorate the bicentennial, the Norwegian-American Historical Association is hosting a conference that begins tomorrow and continues through Sunday at St. Olaf College.
Amy Boxrud, the Executive Director of the Norwegian-American Historical Association, stated that there is a lot of enthusiasm for the event:
“So we have over 50 people coming from Norway, many of them presenting on a lot of church historians, people who are interested in various aspects, you know, women in migration, people from particular areas that are studying migration.” – Amy Boxrud, Executive Director of the Norwegian-American Historical Association on KYMN In The Morning
Among the various events are a range of lectures, tours of local historical sites, and musical performances.
Boxrud says the event has been coordinated across several countries and organizations and called it one of the most significant collaboration events they have ever done:
“There’s a Norwegian committee and a North American committee. There are activities in Canada, the US, and Norway, and we’ve all worked together to create a loose umbrella called Crossings. And we have a shared website in North America and a shared website in Norway.” – Amy Boxrud, Executive Director of the Norwegian-American Historical Association on KYMN In The Morning
Boxrud stated that events in both North America and Norway are occurring simultaneously.
The event begins tomorrow and will run through the end of the week. Registration closes today for the different lectures and tours. Some events are open to the public.
Will have the link to register and the full list of programs on our website in today’s news.
The event is a collaboration between the Norwegian-American Historical Association, the Norwegian-American Historical Association – Norway, the Norwegian Teachers and Researchers Association of North America, and the Norwegian Department at St. Olaf.
See the program of events here
Learn more about Norwegian-American history and migration here
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