Throughout history, the US has been a place where people from different countries emigrate. This is how the nation became the melting pot that it is today. The cities and towns where immigrants lived still have some of their influence embedded in them today.
While some have more history than others, it is possible not to even leave the US to get a taste of what it is like to live in another country, much like when experiencing the “Japan of Colorado”, Oregon’s “Little Switzerland”, or the “Germany of Texas”. For those who have a flare for Scandinavian culture, they do not have to travel to Oslo to see Nordic beauty; the “Norway of Wisconsin” looks straight out of a Viking movie.
Washington Island, Wisconsin is one of those small island destinations with a small-town feel. With just 700 residents, some of which have families that go back generations to their original Norwegian roots, Washington Island feels like it has stood still in time in some regards.
This is because residents have taken care to preserve historic buildings, protect natural areas so they look similar to how they did hundreds of years ago, and have even incorporated architecture that looks like churches in which Vikings would have worshipped.
As a result, travelers who may not be able to make it to Norway come to Washington Island every year to enjoy the beauty and history of it all.
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Washington Island Is The “Norway Of Wisconsin”
Washington Island pays homage to its Norwegian history by maintaining old buildings and constructing new ones that reflect old Norway – and it even has weather that is similar to Scandinavian countries
Washington Island is an island of 700 residents off the tip of Door County on Lake Michigan. Door County, and eventually, Washington Island, were one of the first places that Norwegians called home once they moved to Wisconsin.
As a result, Washington Island embraces its Scandinavian and Viking history, which is on display throughout the town.
The Architecture On Washington Island
Visitors to Washington Island understand just how proud residents are of not only their Norwegian heritage but their overall Scandinavian roots as well, with the flags from all the countries flying at the dock as people arrive at Washington Island.
However, it is the architecture of the buildings around the island that truly speaks to a piece of Norway in Wisconsin.
The most obvious piece of architecture on Washington Island that is Viking inspired, is the Stavkirke church. The church was built in the 1990s to be a replica of similar churches in Norway.
There are also log cabins that were built in the Danish style, which are constructed with vertical logs versus the Lincoln log style horizontal logs.
Even some of the older homes on Washington Island have the same type of architecture that inspired Stavkirke. As such, at every turn, there is Norwegian and Viking history visible today on the island.
The Seasons On Washington Island
If the architecture is not enough to speak to the Norwegian or Viking cultures, the weather just might. This is because the seasons that Washington Island experiences are similar to those of Norway.
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Seasons |
Description Of Seasons In Washington Island |
Description Of Seasons In Norway |
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Fall |
Leaves turn a variety of colors, the Northern Lights appear, and the weather can vary |
The Northern Lights appear, the leaves turn a variety of colors, the weather varies between warm and cold |
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Winter |
The snow appears, the weather gets cold, and the days get shorter |
The snow appears, the weather gets cold, and the days get shorter |
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Run |
Temperatures are mild, the snow begins to melt, and wild flowers bloom |
The snow begins to melt, the flowers begin to bloom in the fjords, birds that have migrated return |
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Summer |
The weather gets warm, the days with loads of sunshine get longer, and the grass is green |
Longer, sun-filled days, the grass across the country is green, the temperatures are warm |
Many of those who live on Washington Island are also of Norwegian or Scandinavian descent. Therefore, it is not hard to pass along traditions to younger generations and keep the Viking spirit alive on Washington Island.
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Why Norwegians Chose Wisconsin As Their Destination To Immigrate To
Given that Vikings were one of the first to discover the Americas, it may very well be that stories of these areas were passed down generations until Norwegians finally came to Wisconsin in droves
When Norwegians came to America, the majority made their home in the same areas. One of those areas was Wisconsin. While it is not expressly known what made Norwegians choose Wisconsin as their home, many have attributed their choice to the fact that it has a similar climate and an economy built around fishing, farming, and lumbering, all of which Norwegians were familiar with.
The idea that there was ample opportunity for wealth was further spread by True Account of America for the Information and Help of Peasant and Commoner, by Ole Rynning. Rynning, a Norwegian immigrant who described building a life in America as far less difficult than it was.
However, some believe it is the Viking spirit that brought the Norwegians to the US. This is because many of the nearly one million immigrants who came to the states from Norway were teenagers and young adults looking to make their own way after land was becoming scarce in Norway.
Perhaps it was the tales told through the generations of a land beyond Greenland and Iceland that got the attention of Norwegians. That land was America, and based on what scientists have been uncovering over the years, Christopher Columbus no longer looks to be the one who discovered the Americas in 1492. Instead, that credit should go to Leif Erikson, who discovered the Americas in 1021 AD.
This was determined when a Viking village was discovered in Newfoundland in 1960. With Newfoundland being a short sail from the Great Lakes, it is very possible that the Vikings made their way to the Wisconsin area. Therefore, Viking influence may have been in Wisconsin and other states where Norwegians eventually ended up long before their permanent immigration in the 1800s.
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Attractions To Visit On Washington Island To Soak In The Norwegian Heritage
Stave Church, Pebbled Schoolhouse Beach, and the Jacobsen Museum are just some of the attractions to enjoy on Washington Island
Because Washington Island was such a popular location for Norwegians (and Scandinavians in general) to immigrate to in the 1800s, it makes sense that the town still holds onto some of that culture today.
While there are many attractions to enjoy on Washington Island, there are several Norwegian highlights in particular that should not be missed when visiting.
Stave church
Stave church is an architectural wonder. It was built in 1990 after it was determined that getting such a church from Norway would be impossible. This is because, as of the 1990s, when Stavkirke was built, there were just under 40 churches built like this left in Norway.
As a result, locals of Washington Island got together to create a church that replicated those found in old Norway.
Construction began in 1990 to bring the multi-tiered building to life. While the size is cut down slightly from what would be found in Norway, the detail is spot on. This is not to say that Stavkirke is not large, as it has three tiers plus a bell tower.
Stavkirke is available to visit daily. There are church services to enjoy at 7:00 PM on Wednesdays and special events are held at Stavkirke year round.
Pebbled Schoolhouse Beach
One of the most underrated but scenic beaches in the US is Pebbled Schoolhouse Beach. It is a favorite for locals and visitors alike, especially during the summer. While the lake is enjoyable to swim in, it is the stones that make up the shoreline that are truly unique.
The pebbles appear to be almost uniform in shape and are made of glacial limestone. This is unique not only to Wisconsin but to most of the world. This is because there are only five beaches like Pebbled Schoolhouse Beach around the globe.
The location of the other beaches that resemble Pebbled Schoolhouse Beach include:
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Norway
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Sweden
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France
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Brazil
It should be noted that Pebbled School House Beach is protected. As such, taking stones from the beach is illegal and can come with a steep fine for those who choose to remove them from Pebbled School House Beach.
Jacobsen Museum
The Jacobsen Museum was once the home of Jens Jacobsen. Jacobsen moved to Washington Island when he was 14 years old and lived there until he died at 85 in 1942.
During his time on the island, Jacobsen built vacation cabins on his land. He also built the building where the museum resides today.
The museum houses Native American artifacts, fossils, and boats that Jacobsen crafted over his lifetime. There is even the original switchboard for Washington Island that is on display in the museum.
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Washington Island is the perfect example of how a town has kept up with the times but also maintained a small-town feel that never lost sight of its roots.
Thus, those who are looking to experience and learn about Norwegian or Viking heritage in the US need look no further than Washington Island, Wisconsin.