Scandinavian Heritage Park

 While in Minot last month, we did a walking tour of the Scandinavian Heritage Park. 

Nearly 40% of the city's residents are of Scandinavian ancestry, and every October since 1977, Minot has been the host to the Norsk Høstfest, North America's largest Scandinavian-American festival. Scandinavian Heritage Park is located in Minot. Scandinavian Heritage Park features remembrances and replicas from each of the Scandinavian countries: Norway, Sweden and Denmark, as well as Finland and Iceland.

Sigdal House

The size of the house, as well as the simple, plain home-made furnishings, are typical of the homes in the Sigdal Mountains of Norway in the early days. This house was built around 1770. It was purchased in Norway, disassembled, shipped to the US where it was reassembled in Heritage Park.

Stabbur

This storehouse is a replica of the cottage from Tørvettjon, a farm near Møsvann in Telemark Norway. It is considered a major work in Norwegian folk architecture. The original was built in 1750.

Dala Horse

These brightly colored horses have been carved in various sizes by Swedish craftsmen. The horses take their name from the province of Dalaena where it has been a popular form of domestic art since the 1840s. This horse is 30' tall. The first Dala Horses were plain wood, created as toys for children. A hundred years later, they took on their familiar bright colors and kurbit (flower-patterned) saddle and harness designs.

Gol Stave Church

The Gol Stave Church Museum is a full-size replica of the original church built in about 1250, now in Bygdoy Park in Oslo, Norway.

Casper Oimoen

Born May 8, 1906 in Valders Norway. He was 7 states ski jumping champion; National Amateur Ski Jumping Champion 1930, 1931, 1936; on the Olympic Ski Team 1932 and 1936; and once captain of the US Team.

Sondre Norheim

Born in Morgedal Telemark Norway in 1825 and died in McHenry County North Dakota 1897. He is considered the Father of Modern Skiing.

Lief Eiriksson

According to the Vinland Saga of Iceland, Lief the Lucky was the first man of European stock to step ashore in America in about the year 1000.

Finnish Sauna

Typically, a sauna consists of a dressing room, wooden benches and a stove of hot, glowing stones heating the room to 190 to 280 degrees. Someone I know is waiting his turn in the sauna.

flags of the Scandinavian countries

some 700-800 year old Stave churches still stand in Norway

Danish Windmill

In 1928 the windmill was built by Carl Olson in Powers Lake ND and used to supply water and grind wheat for the family.

Hans Christian Anderson (1805-1873)

Denmarks most beloved author wrote more than 200 stories loved by children around the world including  The Ugly Duckling and The Little Mermaid. Shari Hamilton was the sculpturess for this statue

(click on any photo to make it larger)

roofline of the visitors center

Five aluminum skiis, symbolic of the five Scandinavian countries, support a World globe which represents the many contributions to the sport of skiing that Sondre Norheim gave the World. The monument was designed by Minot artist Sheldon Larson.