- Founded: 1911 by Danish educators
- Population: 5,332 (2000 Census)
- Area: 2.5 square miles
- Median Family Income: $57,703
- Founded: 1911 by Danish educators
- Population: 5,332 (2000 Census)
- Area: 2.5 square miles
- Median Family Income: $57,703
Solvang was settled by a group of Danish educators in 1911, and the Danish traditions continue...
Solvang-- the name is a Danish word meaning "sunny field"-- was founded in 1911 on 9,000 acres of former
Spanish land grant. To the small group of Danish settlers, refugees from Midwestern winters, the area must have looked like heaven. It was a group of Danish educators who founded Solvang and they immediately went to work building a Danish folk school.
In 1914 the school moved to newly constructed Atterdag College, where students learned the basics and a love of Danish culture. Atterdag College is gone, but it's spirit still infuses the town.
In 1936, on Solvang's 25th birthday, the future Danish king and queen visited, sparking interest in the local colony and the local annual festival known as Danish Days.
When The Saturday Evening Post featured Solvang in a 1946 article, tourists came, attracted by the setting, the customs, and the idyllic life.
Shops, galleries, restaurants, and hotels soon sprouted, each reflecting the area's Danish
architectural heritage. And Solvang evolved into the jewel it is today: a charming town with roots planted firmly in Danish tradition.
Although Solvang has developed into a major tourist mecca, its many Danish-American residents continue to perpetuate their Danish heritage. Danish and Danish-American fraternal and social organizations are active in Solvang, including Danish Brotherhood and Sisterhood Lodges, Dania Men's and Ladies Lodges and a Solvang chapter of the Rebild National Park Society. Other ties with Denmark are evident too. Some members of the community are members of the Royal Order of Dannebrog in recognition of their contributions towards strengthening the bonds between the United States and Denmark. "In addition, Solvang and Aalborg in Denmark are sister cities".
To learn more about the history of Solvang go to the Elverhoy Museum of History and Art, where they have displays of how early settlers lived and can provide you with all you need to know about early Solvang. You can also pick up a self-guided walking tour of Solvang
from either of the two Visitors centers. If you're interested in seeing where the original first Danish settlement sites were located, you can easily find the sites w
ith the help of this useful and informative map.
Danish Days, celebrated annually in September, is an important time of year in Solvang. This is when Solvang invites the public to share a celebration of the town's Danish heritage. The good life and simple pleasures are remembered with old world customs and pageantry. Danish folk dancing, entertainment, music, parades, displays and food are presented all weekend.
Spanish land grant. To the small group of Danish settlers, refugees from Midwestern winters, the area must have looked like heaven. It was a group of Danish educators who founded Solvang and they immediately went to work building a Danish folk school. In 1914 the school moved to newly constructed Atterdag College, where students learned the basics and a love of Danish culture. Atterdag College is gone, but it's spirit still infuses the town.
In 1936, on Solvang's 25th birthday, the future Danish king and queen visited, sparking interest in the local colony and the local annual festival known as Danish Days.
When The Saturday Evening Post featured Solvang in a 1946 article, tourists came, attracted by the setting, the customs, and the idyllic life. Shops, galleries, restaurants, and hotels soon sprouted, each reflecting the area's Danish
architectural heritage. And Solvang evolved into the jewel it is today: a charming town with roots planted firmly in Danish tradition. Although Solvang has developed into a major tourist mecca, its many Danish-American residents continue to perpetuate their Danish heritage. Danish and Danish-American fraternal and social organizations are active in Solvang, including Danish Brotherhood and Sisterhood Lodges, Dania Men's and Ladies Lodges and a Solvang chapter of the Rebild National Park Society. Other ties with Denmark are evident too. Some members of the community are members of the Royal Order of Dannebrog in recognition of their contributions towards strengthening the bonds between the United States and Denmark. "In addition, Solvang and Aalborg in Denmark are sister cities".
To learn more about the history of Solvang go to the Elverhoy Museum of History and Art, where they have displays of how early settlers lived and can provide you with all you need to know about early Solvang. You can also pick up a self-guided walking tour of Solvang
from either of the two Visitors centers. If you're interested in seeing where the original first Danish settlement sites were located, you can easily find the sites with the help of this useful and informative map. Danish Days, celebrated annually in September, is an important time of year in Solvang. This is when Solvang invites the public to share a celebration of the town's Danish heritage. The good life and simple pleasures are remembered with old world customs and pageantry. Danish folk dancing, entertainment, music, parades, displays and food are presented all weekend.
Atterdag College, circa 1915