Official visit to the US: Street Festival Celebration at Vesterheim

Ladies and gentlemen,
Friends,

Two hundred years ago, 52 Norwegians left the harbour of Stavanger aboard the sloop Restauration, bound for America. Imagine their anticipation, uncertainty and hope – I would guess they had very mixed emotions as they set out on this life-changing journey. Leaving behind everything they knew. Facing an unknown future, in a new country.

For you some of you sloopers here today – such as Chuck, Susan and Heather – this story is part of your family history.

For the rest of us, it is a key part of the story behind the strong bonds that have evolved between the United States and Norway.

The Restauration’s arrival in New York after a three-month voyage marked the start of a wave of Norwegian emigration to the US.

Today we are commemorating this first journey with another journey – to Iowa, to Minnesota, and later to New York – to celebrate our shared history.

Being here at Vesterheim – surrounded by Norwegian flags and people in bunads – almost makes me feel more Norwegian than I do at home.

It’s great to see how Norwegian traditions and culture are not only preserved in this part of the US — they are celebrated and passed on with pride. Not just as dusty memories, but as a unique heritage that continues to bring people together around a shared identity. Thank you all for helping to keep these roots and bonds alive.

The first Norwegian immigrants to the US were seeking religious freedom and new opportunities in a country that captivated the imagination of people all over the world. They brought with them their skills, their songs and their stories. Life was difficult, but they were resilient. They wove themselves into the fabric of this country, while never forgetting where they came from.

It is important to acknowledge that these newcomers did not arrive in an unihabited land. Native Americans had lived here for centuries upon centuries. Their presence and heritage remain a vital part of the story of this region, and the story of the Norwegian immigrants to the US.

Here at Vesterheim, Norwegian culture and heritage live on. The museum preserves the record of a shared history – one that reflects not only our national identities, but also the common ground we have built together.

The museum’s displays of tools and photographs from those early years also bear witness to the friendship and solidarity that have carried us forward together. What is celebrated here is more than heritage – it is a living partnership.

The Norwegian-American story is a reminder that our relationship is not built on political and economic ties alone, but on the belief that by working together, we create a better future for all.

It is a great honour for me to be awarded Den Høyeste Ære, and I accept it as a symbol of the enduring bond between our people.

As we look ahead, let us take inspiration from the courage of those early settlers and from the many generations who have further strengthened the bridge between our nations.

Thank you for your warm welcome here today. It is a privilege to be here with you to celebrate the friendship between the US and Norway — a partnership shaped by history, sustained by cooperation, and bound by shared values that will guide us into the future.

Thank you.