On Monday, Oct. 6, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway visited Luther College, and Decorah, making appearances on campus and at the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School. This visit was part of a royal Norwegian tour of Iowa, Minnesota and New York in celebration of 200 years of Norwegian immigration.
200 years ago, on July 4, 1825, a sloop called the Restauration set off from the harbor in Stavanger, Norway. 52 men and women set sail on a voyage across the Atlantic in search of a better life in America, wishing to find opportunity, religious freedom and new beginnings. They arrived in New York City on Oct. 9, 1825 with 53 people onboard, as Martha Georgiana Larsen had a baby, Margaret Allen, during the journey. This was the beginning of 200 years of Norwegian immigration to the United States, with more than 800,000 Norwegian immigrants arriving over the course of the next century.
As these immigrants arrived to the United States, they built communities here, around churches, businesses and places of education. Luther College was one of those communities: the first college in the United States founded by Norwegian immigrants in 1861. His Royal Highness (H.R.H.) Crown Prince Haakon spoke to this in his convocation address.
“Today, I want to talk about the stories that bind us together,” H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon said. “The story of Norway and the United States. What is it that connects our nations? What ties our people together, across oceans? I believe it is the stories that we share, that we tell ourselves, and that we tell each other. Stories of courage and curiosity, stories of hardship and hope, stories that remind us who we are and who we aspire to be.”
This royal visit builds upon a history of other Norwegian royals, with nine visits since 1939. The last royal visit was in 2011, by Their Royal Highnesses King Harald and Queen Sonja. They came to Luther College in celebration of the sesquicentennial of Luther College. The story of Luther College, and its ties to Norway, have only strengthened since then, with visits from distinguished Norwegian representatives such as Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ine Eriksen Søreide, Norwegian Ambassador to the United States Anniken Huitfeldt and President of the Storting Masud Gharahkhani. All of these visits have happened within the last two years, through the work of the Nordic studies department, and cooperation with the Paideia program.
As part of the convocation, Luther College conferred the degree of Doctor of Civil Law honoris causa upon H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon. This degree is in honor of his work in human rights, environmental responsibility and international cooperation between Norway and the United States. On Oct. 6, 1965, exactly 60 years prior, King Harald (then the Crown Prince), was granted an honorary degree from Luther College. His father, Olav V, also received a degree in 1939, when he was Crown Prince, as part of one of his visits to the United States.
200 years after the first Norwegian immigrants arrived in the United States, and made their impact on communities across the country, Luther College is the home to the only endowed undergraduate center for Nordic studies in the United States, the Richard L. and Judith A. Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies, and its related Nordic Studies degree program. Director of the Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies and associate professor of Nordic studies, Maren Johnson has worked for the Luther College Nordic studies department to be the premiere undergraduate Nordic studies program in the United States.
Luther is working towards this “by offering robust curriculum, engaging a diversity of voices from the Nordic region on campus (like Camara Lundestad Joof, the Paideia fall author), elected officials, guest researchers and more,” Johnson said.
As part of the convocation address, H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon talked about the necessity of a global perspective, and what can be gained from a college education.
“That is the essence of a free society: the courage to exchange ideas with others,” Crown Prince Haakon said. “Universities have an absolutely critical role to play as sites for free exchange of ideas. Independent teaching and research is at the heart of a free society. And so, to the students here today: cherish that freedom. Seek out those that are different from you. Be curious, be generous, because that is how we grow.”
President Brad Chamberlain spoke to the grounded and global nature of a Luther education, and wishes to ensure that “Luther College remains grounded in Nordic values such as equality, mutual respect and innovation that have shaped the college throughout its history,” Chamberlain said during the convocation. “They infuse Luther College with a spirit that reflects Nordic commitments to service on behalf of the common good. And they serve as a gateway to international exchange opportunities that enable Luther College students, faculty, staff and alumni to be global citizens with a global impact.”
H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon came to Decorah in celebration of this history of immigration, and crosscultural ties. As part of his visit, he attended a commemorative event at the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in downtown Decorah, and participated in a celebratory convocation in the Center for Faith and Life. Upon his arrival to campus, H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon walked through campus, greeted by students from all reaches of the Luther College campus. After seeing the plans for the future of Campus House, greeting students on his way across campus and taking a photo with students at the Luther Bell, Prince Haakon spoke with students, faculty and staff in the Union.
Haakon Rustad (‘25), Luther College Major Gifts and Donor Relations Manager, had the opportunity to speak with H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon, in a series of brief conversations surrounding education and exchange, business and entrepreneurship, and sustainability.
“What stuck out to me was Crown Prince Haakon’s genuine interest in who we are– in our stories,” Rustad said. “As someone of Norwegian descent, it was incredibly remarkable to have the opportunity to experience a day such as this. Having the opportunity to shake hands and talk with my namesake was something I will never forget.”
Henry Lenaburg (‘27) was excited to be in Decorah for these festivities, and values the connection and cooperation between Luther and Norway.
“My ancestors from Norway had a stake in Luther’s founding,” Lenaburg said. “To be able to have a brief conversation with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon at Luther, of all places, was incredible.”
Julia Ronning (‘29) is a Luther student who takes pride in her Norwegian-American background, and attended both the events at the Vesterheim and on the Luther College Campus.
“We hold really tightly to cultural traditions from when our ancestors immigrated, which in turn helps keep these traditions alive as Norway moves into a modern age,” Ronning said.
In an address to the gathered people at the Vesterheim Museum, H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon discussed the shared values of Norway and the United States that are apparent in the story that the Vesterheim Museum tells.
“What is celebrated here is more than heritage,” he said. “It is a living partnership. The Norwegian American story is a reminder that our relationship is not built on political and economic ties alone, but on the belief that by working together, we can create a better future for all.”
Partnership, and international cooperation, was a common theme between all of the events of the day, particularly in the addresses given during the celebration convocation.
“[With this commemoration,] we celebrate the historic and enduring connections between Norway and the United States of America,” Chamberlain said. “Today, we lift up the story of the people separated by an ocean but united by their heritage, their values and their collective pursuit of the common good.”
Lily Nuland (‘26), a Norwegian international student at Luther College, had the opportunity to greet and speak with H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon, and believes that celebration is even more meaningful than what initially meets the eye.
“[This celebration] is a powerful reminder that everyone deserves a second chance to build the life they dream of,” Nuland said. “Two centuries ago, many Norwegians left their homeland because of poverty and limited opportunities. With courage and determination, they settled in places like Decorah, built strong communities, and contributed not only to their towns but to the nation as a whole. Their story reminds us that immigrants, past and present, bring strength, creativity, and renewal when given acceptance and opportunity.”
Students commented on the approachability of H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon, as they had conversations about shared experiences with misspellings of Norwegian names, the benefits of geothermal energy and the culture of the Luther College campus.
“It was inspiring to see how he connected with students personally, showing that social status should not change the way you treat others,” Nuland said. “The experience was a reminder that leadership and influence can be grounded in humility and respect, and it made the encounter feel both personal and meaningful.”
As the head of the Nordic studies department, Johnson was instrumental in planning and preparing for H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon’s visit to campus.
“The roots of the college and Vesterheim are epicenters of tradition, of culture for Norwegian-Americans,” Johnson said. “The historical traditions are carried on and enlivened through the exhibitions and folk art school at Vesterheim, and courses at Luther in Nordic studies and history challenge students to engage with questions of immigration and Norway’s role in the world today through real objects found in our community.”
“A connection to Norway is something deeply authentic for Luther,” Johnson said. “There are not many schools that offer Norwegian or Nordic studies, so how can these be distinguishing factors and an invitation for students from across campus, from diverse backgrounds to learn about this part of the world?”
Part of the Crown Prince’s visit to Luther College included the dedication of Campus House as the new home for the Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies, a project architecturally spearheaded by Snøhetta, an architecture firm based in Oslo, Norway. The gathering space is meant to be a place for collaborative work between faculty, staff, students and community members.
“The vision is not for this to be an exclusively Nordic space, rather a space that’s inspired by Nordic design, Nordic tradition and the history of the house as the former president’s residence and president’s office,” said Johnson.
After his visit to the Luther College campus, H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon continued his tour to the Twin Cities, before greeting the replica of the Restauration sloop on Pier 16 in New York City on Oct. 9, 2025, exactly 200 years after the arrival of the first voyage from Norway to America.
