Establishing the state’s official Nordic Heritage Museum

OLYMPIA – The Nordic Heritage Museum is the only one in the United States to honor the legacy of immigrants from the five Nordic countries — Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, and Sen. Ken Jacobsen, D-Seattle, wants it to be an official museum for Washington. He is the main sponsor of Senate Bill 5857, which would designate the Nordic Heritage Museum as the state’s official Nordic museum.

“Many people don’t know about the Nordic Heritage Museum in Seattle. I hope that my legislation will place a spotlight on the importance of museums and the crucial role that they play in collecting, preserving and educating the public,” Jacobsen said.

The Nordic Heritage Museum was founded in 1980. It highlights the contributions of Nordic immigrants and their descendants in the development of the Pacific Northwest, serving as a bridge between people from the Nordic countries and the United States. The museum houses nine permanent galleries and three temporary exhibition spaces. The second floor features two galleries that focus on the logging and fishing industries, which employed many immigrants.

“The Nordic Heritage Museum deserves statewide recognition. It’s a great resource for school groups and it helps visitors understand the unique history and contributions of the people from the Nordic countries,” Jacobsen said.

The museum is located in Ballard, the heart of Seattle’s Scandinavian community, at 3014 N.W. 67th St., Seattle, WA 98177.

SB 5857 awaits a hearing in the Senate Government Operations & Elections Committee.

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