National Nordic Museum

The National Nordic Museum (previously Nordic Heritage Museum and then Nordic Museum) is a museum in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, United States, dedicated to the history of the area's Nordic immigrants. It was founded in 1980 as the Nordic Heritage Museum, moved into a permanent, purpose-built facility in 2018 named the Nordic Museum, and was designated as the National Nordic Museum in 2019. The museum serves as a community gathering place and shares Nordic culture by exhibiting art and objects, preserving collections, and providing educational and cultural experiences from Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian and Swedish Americans.

National Nordic Museum
The main entrance to the current Nordic Museum on Market Street
Established1980
Location2655 NW Market Street
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Coordinates47°40′06″N 122°23′33″W
TypeHeritage center
DirectorEric Nelson
PresidentTom Malone
Websitewww.nordicmuseum.org
The entrance to the old Nordic Heritage Museum with a sculpture by Finnish artist Eino Romppanen, now closed and replaced by a relocated Nordic Museum

Description

The museum was originally known as the 'Nordic Heritage Museum' and was located in a red brick building in a predominantly residential part of Ballard. This building had housed the Daniel Webster Elementary School from 1907 to 1979,[1] at which time low student enrollment led to its closure. In 2018, the museum was renamed the 'Nordic Museum' and moved into a new 57,000-square-foot (5,300 m2) building on NW Market Street in Ballard. This building, commissioned by the Museum, opened May 5, 2018, and was dedicated by Icelandic president Guðni Th. Jóhannesson and Danish crown princess Mary.[2][3]

The non-profit museum's mission is to share "Nordic culture with people of all ages and backgrounds by exhibiting art and objects, preserving collections, providing educational and cultural experiences, and serving as a community gathering place." The founder and long-time director Marianne Forssblad retired in 2007.[4] Eric Nelson followed her as executive director and Janet Rauscher became chief curator in 2008.[5] In 2012, Lizette Gradén became the chief curator.

The museum published the NHM Historical Journal on a quarterly basis until 2011. In 2013 the museum published its first edition of the annual magazine Nordic Kultur.

The museum has also published books including Voices of Ballard and Beyond: Stories of Immigrants and Their Descendants in the Pacific Northwest published in 2012.

The Nordic Museum contains a Cultural Resource Center, that includes the Walter Johnson Memorial Library which was founded in 1980. As of 2011 it held 15500 books. It specializes in books published in Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, and Swedish. Its special collection includes the Gordon Tracie Music Collection and the Vanishing Generations Oral History Project.[6] The Gordon Ekvall Tracie Music Collection (formerly the Gordon Ekvall Tracie Music Library) was founded in 1995. As of 2011 it contained 3000 audio/visual materials, 4000 music scores, 2500 books, and 40 periodical subscriptions. It focuses on folk customs, traditional dance, traditional music, folk art, and folk attire for Nordic cultures. Its special collections include the Gordon Ekvall Tracie Music Collection, the Nordiska Folkdancers Collection, and the Skandia Folkdance Society Collection.[6]

The museum was designated as the National Nordic Museum in March 2019 by the U.S. Congress as part of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act.[7] The new name was dedicated by senators Maria Cantwell and Lisa Murkowski the following month.[8]

Exhibitions

Nordic Heritage Museum
Exhibits at the old Nordic Heritage Museum
Exhibit from Sweden Room of the old Nordic Heritage Museum
Viking ship at Viking Days 2012
Ship and Viking encampment at Viking Days
Craft and food vendors outside the previous museum building during Viking Days festival

As part of the long term exhibits, the old Nordic Heritage Museum had five ethnic galleries, one for each country, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, as well a gallery, "Dream of America", describing Nordic emigration to the Pacific Northwest. There was also a temporary gallery space.

  • Permanent
    • Dream of America
    • Folk Art Galleries
    • Fishing Gallery
    • Logging Gallery
    • Iceland Room
    • Norway Room
    • Denmark Room
    • Finland Room
    • Sweden Room
  • Temporary
    • Past (Since 2005)
      • Imaging the Arctic: Maria Coryell-Martin, Kristin Laidre & Finnish photographer Tiina Itkonen (December 12, 2014 – February 22, 2015)
      • Odin's Eye (October 10 – November 9, 2014)
      • The Color of Time: Ballard from Dusk to Dawn (September 19 – November 16, 2014)
      • Danish Modern Design (May 16 – August 31, 2014)
      • Pull, Twist, Blow: Transforming the Kingdom of Glass (December 13, 2013 – April 26, 2014)
      • Dressing Swedish: From Hazelius to Salander (September 13 – November 10, 2013)
      • Eino - 50 Years of Making Sculptures (September 27 – December 7, 2013)
      • Ørnulf Opdahl – Mood Paintings of the North (June 28 – September 1, 2013)
      • Scissors for a Brush (March 22 – June 16, 2013)
      • Bad Art? 1,000 Birch Board Pictures from Sweden (November 30, 2012 – March 3, 2013)
      • The Impression of Amundsen: Roald Amundsen's South Pole Expedition 1910–1912 (January 18 – March 3, 2013)
      • To me there's no other choice — Raoul Wallenberg 1912-2012 (December 4, 2012 – January 13, 2013)
      • Eight Seasons in Sápmi, the Land of the Sámi People (August 31 – November 4, 2012)
      • Eero Saarinen: A Reputation for Innovation (May 25 – August 19, 2012)
      • Celebrating 75 Years of the Seattle Weavers’ Guild (March 9 – May 6, 2012)
      • Here and There: Contemporary Nordic-American Ceramics (March 9 – May 6, 2012)
      • Cold Recall: Reflections of a Polar Explorer (December 9, 2011 – February 5, 2012)
      • The Enduring Designs of Josef Frank (December 2, 2011 – February 19, 2012)
      • Nordic Fashion Biennale: Looking Back to Find our Future (September 30 – November 13, 2011)
      • 17 Swedish Designers (June 3 – August 21, 2011)
      • Vessels of the Heart: Fairbanks at Arabia / Cushing and Salmenhaara at Alfred (March 4 – May 22, 2011)
      • August Werner: Uncommon Traditionalist (December 3, 2010 – February 5, 2011)
      • Victor Borge: A Smile is the Shortest Distance (December 3, 2010 – February 5, 2011)
      • Lost in Nature: The Architecture of Jarmund / Vigsnaes (September 17 – November 14, 2010)
      • 100 Years of Women's Voices and Action in Finland (September 10 – November 14, 2010)
      • Somebody's Grandma (July 9 – September 5, 2010)
      • Sweden from Above: Photographs by Lars Bygdemark (April 30 – June 27, 2010)
      • Ray Jensen (February 19 – April 18, 2010)
      • Ennesbo (December 4, 2009 – February 7, 2010)
      • From Colony to Community: The Story of New Sweden (October 14, 2009 – February 17, 2010)
      • Maria Friberg (September 18 – November 15, 2009)
      • Nordics and Seattle's First World's Fair: Celebrating the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (June 12 – September 6, 2009)
      • My Paradise: 100 Years of Finnish Architects’ Summer Homes (April 17 – May 31, 2009)
      • Knitting Along the Viking Trail (February 6 – April 5, 2009)
      • Faces of Copenhagen: Photographs by Itzick Lev (November 14, 2008 – February 8, 2009)
      • Skude 360 Degrees: Paintings by Severin Haines (December 5, 2008 – January 25, 2009)
      • Vastinparit – Counterparts: Photographs by Jari Arffman (October 3 – November 16, 2008)
      • The Latvians: Fifty Years in the State of Washington (October 14 – November 9, 2008)
      • Northwest Designer Craftsmen: Nordic Roots
      • Norwegian Resettlement of Jewish Refugees after World War II
      • Maria Coryell-Martin: An Expeditionary Artist in Greenland
      • Eliot O’Hara: Watercolors of Norway
      • Caryl Utigard: Birds of Iceland
      • Facing Climate Change
      • Roland Pantze: Painter of Sami Life
      • Kolmenkertainen Suomalainen: Three Times Finish (November 30, 2007 – February 3, 2008)
      • Nordic Spirit: Early Icelandic Settlements in B.C. & Point Roberts (December 13, 2007 – January 31, 2008)
      • Reminiscences: Icelandic Wood Sculpture Past and Present (October 5 – November 11, 2007)
      • Elegant Explorations: The Designs of Phillip Jacobson (August 10 – September 23, 2007)
      • Absolutely Swedish: The photography of Bengt Nilsson & Johan Wedenstrom (August 10 – September 23, 2007)
      • Three Norwegian Artists: Jonny Andvik, Dagfinn Bakke, Elling Reitan (June 15 – July 30, 2007)
      • You, I and Fairy Tale – Sa, Ma, ja Satu (April 6 – June 3, 2007)
      • Immigrants: Graphic Images from Funen Graphic Workshop (January 26 – March 25, 2007)
      • Tapestry on the Edge (December 1, 2006 – January 14, 2007)
      • Henrik Ibsen – 100th Anniversary Art Exhibit (December 1–20, 2006)
      • Uncommon Threads (October 6 – November 12, 2006)
      • The Promise of happiness – paintings by Mark Thompson (August 17 – October 8, 2006)
      • Kiln Cast Glass (June 23 – September 24, 2006)
      • Surface Stances
      • Dream Time Fairy Photo Collages
      • Clarence E. “Pete” Pedersen (191402006) A Ballardite for 91 years: His Life and Work
      • The Landscapes of Clyde Aspevig: A Closer Look (April 14 – June 11, 2006)
      • Swift and Slow: New Drawings by Sol Kjøk
      • Memories and Moods – Norway Revisited
      • Northern Glow – Sculptural Pewter
      • Nexus: Paintings by Karl Momen (donated by Museum President Allan Osberg in 2006)[9] (February 17 – April 2, 2006)
      • Boundary Crossings: Temporal Dialogues in Finnish Landscape Photography
      • Parallel Paths: Two Generations in Art (December 9, 2005 – February 5, 2006)
      • Crabbing in the Bering Sea: Photographs from the F/V Rollo 2003-2005
      • Sacral Space: Modern Finnish Churches
      • Laila Carlsen
      • The Sami Reindeer People of Alaska

National Nordic Museum
Warrior helmet, Valsgärde boat grave 5, 7th century. The Vikings Begin.

The permanent exhibit has been reconceived as a single exhibit, "Nordic Journeys", spread over five galleries. Besides artifacts from the museum's one permanent collection, over 100 objects are on extended loan from other museums in the U.S. and national museums of the five Nordic countries. The exhibit ranges from 4,000-year-old stone axes and Viking-era artifacts to examples of modern Nordic design.[10]

  • Temporary exhibits
    • The Vikings Begin. (October 20, 2018 – April 14, 2019)[11]
    • Studio 54 & Beyond - the Photography of Hasse Persson (May 11, 2019 – August 25, 2019)

Public programs

A large part of the museum's focus is offering programming to educate the public about Scandinavian culture, including a craft school, adult and kids programs and teacher resources.

  • Folk School
    • Nordic Knitting Café
    • Nordic Woodcarving
    • Rosemaling
    • Nordic Cooking
  • Adult Programs
    • Tours
    • Language Classes
    • Nordic American Voices
  • Kids & Parents
    • Craft Projects
    • Kids’ Corner
    • Music for Kids
  • Teachers
    • Outreach Trunks
    • Nordic Adventures
    • Tour Materials

Events

The museum holds frequent events that further its mission of creating a community gathering space and educating the public about Nordic culture and heritage, including:

  • Concerts, such as the Mostly Nordic Chamber Music Series and Smörgåsbord (18th season in 2013)
  • Films
  • Lectures
  • Exhibition openings and artist tours

Special events

Each year the National Nordic Museum hosts two major community events, Nordic Sól and Julefest.

Nordic Sól began in 1984 as Tivoli Days and was held each July. In 2008 the two-day event's name was changed to Viking Days and in 2011 the event moved to mid-August. In 2018, the event moved back to July to coincide with the annual Ballard SeafoodFest.[12] The event features food and craft vendors, Scandinavian music, and a Viking Encampment. In 2019, the museum renamed Viking Days to Nordic Sól and redesigned it to highlight more aspects of Nordic history and contemporary culture.

Julefest is held the Saturday and Sunday before Thanksgiving each year. This event is a Nordic Christmas celebration with craft vendors, Nordic food and music, and Christmas traditions on display. The 2019 Julefest was the 42nd occurrence of this festival.[13]

References
  1. "Seattle Public Schools, 1862-2000: Webster School".
  2. Kiley, Brendan (April 30, 2018). "'Mad dash to the finish' as Seattle's new Nordic Museum prepares for its grand debut". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  3. Mithun, Inc. The Nordic Museum in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle
  4. Bartley, Nancy (April 30, 2007). "Director of Nordic Heritage Museum returning to Sweden". Seattle Times. Retrieved November 26, 2009.
  5. Sturdivant, Peggy (May 18, 2009). "At Large in Ballard: Capturing the voices". Ballard News-Tribune. Retrieved November 26, 2009.
  6. American Library Directory. 2 (64th ed.). Information Today, Inc. 2011–2012. pp. 2568–2576. ISBN 978-1-57387-411-3.
  7. Connelly, Joel (March 12, 2019). "Sen. Cantwell, trenchant Trump critic, makes rare trip to White House". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  8. Connelly, Joel (April 25, 2019). "'Little museum' in Seattle designated National Nordic Museum". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  9. Sheila, Farr (March 2, 2006). "Wagner-inspired paintings donated to Nordic museum". Seattle Times. Retrieved November 26, 2009.
  10. "Nordic Journeys". Nordic Museum. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
  11. "The Vikings Begin". Nordic Museum. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
  12. "Viking Days". NordicMuseum.org. Retrieved December 23, 2018. We officially moved our beloved summer celebration to the same weekend as SeafoodFest to expand the weekend’s fun, educational activities.
  13. "42nd annual Julefest coming soon to National Nordic Museum". My Ballard. November 5, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
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