Photo Credit: Lise Åserud, NTB
To mark the 200th anniversary of the first Norwegian emigration to the United States, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon will visit the United States October 6-9, 2025. The visit will help to strengthen cooperation between Norway and the United States, especially in business, research and culture.
The Crown Prince will be accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide and Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth. A Norwegian business delegation is also participating in the trip.
The emigration anniversary marks the 200th anniversary of the first organized Norwegian emigration to America in 2025.
The Crown Prince will visit Decorah, Iowa and Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, where he will meet with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, visit Norwegian American communities and institutions, and participate in a business conference.
October 6, Crown Prince Haakon will visit Vesterheim, the National Norwegian American Museum and Folk Art School, as well as Luther College while in Decorah, Iowa.
October 7, the Crown Prince will visit Norway House in Minneapolis to open the new Saga Center, an interactive exhibit utilizing cutting-edge interactive technology for families of all ages to explore connections to Norway through the hands-on experiences and immersive environments of Norwegian arts, business, and culture.
Crown Prince Haakon’s visit to Norway House will coincide with a business forum focused on healthcare and defense hosted by Innovation Norway, the Norwegian government’s official trade organization abroad. Crown Prince Haakon will open the conference before cutting the ribbon of the Saga Center. “We are honored H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon will be joining us to open the Saga Center,” said Christina Carleton, president and chief executive officer of Norway House. “It’s so important for Norwegian Americans to remember who we are and where we came from, and this new feature will provide a space for our collective stories to be shared.”
In New York on October 9, the Crown Prince will welcome the ship “Restauration,” which is a replica of the emigrant ship which sailed from Stavanger to New York in 1825, setting off several waves of Norwegian citizens who migrated to North America. When the modern ship arrives in New York, it will have completed the same voyage across the Atlantic as Norwegian emigrants 200 years ago. “Restauration” will dock at Pier 16 right next to the South Street Seaport Museum, where a celebration with cultural elements will be held. There will also be a separate business program for the Crown Prince in New York.