The All Things Norwegian Tour

The Minnesota State Capitol

The Minnesota State Capitol was designed by master architect Cass Gilbert. The Renaissance Revival-style building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The domed Capitol took nine years to build at a cost of $4.5 million and opened to the public in January of 1905. At the base of the dome is a four-horse chariot (quadriga). The floor space of the building spans over 300,000 square feet. Below ground level are kid-friendly “secret tunnels” to explore.

On display inside the Capitol rotunda and on the expansive outdoor Mall are several bronze and stone statues by Norwegian sculptor John Karl Daniels. He emigrated from Bodø to Minnesota in 1884 and died in 1978 at age 103. The statues created by Daniels include Leif Erikson and Knute Nelson. Born in Voss, Norway, Knute served in the Civil War, was the first foreign-born governor of the state of Minnesota, and the State’s longest-serving senator. Other noteworthy “Norwegian-Minnesotan” politicians are Coya Knutson who served in the House of Representatives from 1951– 1955, and Peggy Flanagan who is the current lieutenant governor. She is of Norwegian and Ojibwe heritage.

Old Muskego Church

Old Muskego Church, also known as Norway Lutheran Church, was built on land that once belonged to the Potawatomi Nation. The church opened for worship in 1844 in Muskego, WI. It was the first Norwegian Lutheran Church built in the USA. When the congregation outgrew the church, it was used as a pigsty. The former church was disassembled in 1902 and reassembled in St. Paul, MN in 1904. The structure is on the National Register of Historic Places and also on the list of Minnesota State Historical Sites. Nearby the modest wood building stands Luther Seminary (built in 1900), “the grandest and most expensive structure erected by the Norwegian Lutherans in American up to the present time.”

The Guthrie Theater

The Twin Cities has more theaters per capita than any other city in the U.S. The Guthrie is a stand out for its excellent theatrical productions, and its contemporary cantilever that overlooks the Mississippi River. The common areas of the theater are open to the public. The trails along the river lead to the iconic Stone Arch Bridge, Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam, the Dam Visitor Center, Mill City Ruins, and Gold Medal Park. This is a great area for both adults and children to explore.

Mindekirken Norwegian Lutheran Church

Mindekirken Norwegian Lutheran Church was built in 1922 and added onto in 1930 for a total cost of $173,000. The majestic sanctuary was completed in 1930 replete with stained glass windows, a Wurlitzer organ, an altar painting, and an altar carved by master craftsman Leif Melgaard (1899-1991). Sunday services are conducted in both English and Norwegian.

Norway House

Across the parking lot from Mindekirken is Norway House, the “Norwegian arts, business, and culture center in America.” The main entrance is bejeweled with a 16-foot, polished steel pinecone sculpture by Norwegian artist Finn Eirik Modahl. A Viking ship, archives, a café, an art gallery, and many other delights await all who enter.