There are a number of great museums in the Seattle area. From the Seattle Art Museum to the Museum of History and Industry, the area is blessed with a wealth of interesting places to visit. One museum that is a little off the beaten trail is the Nordic Museum in the Ballard area. This museum celebrates the history and culture of the Nordic countries.
The Nordic countries, or as some would say the Scandinavian countries, are located in northern Europe. While each of the countries has its own history and unique cultural elements, they also have many similarities that create a unity among them. Seattle has long recognized the Nordic culture’s presence in its city, particularly in the Ballard area. The Nordic Museum tells the story of Nordic history, culture and its influence here in Washington.
The museum in Ballard is easy to find on Market Street. It’s exterior design is quite simple in keeping with much of the thought regarding Scandinavian design, and makes a strong statement. Look for paid parking in the back. At the moment it is open Thursday through Sunday. Advanced purchase of timed tickets are required to limit the number of visitors during COVID. The museum also provides visitors with a map to guide them through the museum in a specific flow to help with social distancing,
There are four basic display rooms in the museum. On the first floor visitors will find an area used for temporary exhibits. When I visited recently, they featured an art exhibit of landscapes from Finnish artists. The exhibit noted certain well-known artists as well as talked about the styles of the art work. Not surprisingly there were quite a few pieces that featured a winter or snow scene. However the artists do depict other seasons.
From this exhibit visitors are directed down a hallway where there is another temporary exhibit in an alcove. For me this exhibit piqued my interest the most because it focused on ski jumping. Watching ski jumping during the Winter Olympics had intrigued me as a kid. Here was my chance to learn more about it. Not surprisingly ski jumping began in Norway but eventually found its way to the Pacific Northwest. The exhibit shared about ski jumping competitions held in the Cascades. Unaware of these, I enjoyed seeing the photos of these early nearby events.
The next stop is a room which identifies the various Nordic countries. To the right is a large screen TV that displays people talking about what makes the Nordic cultures unique. There is also a large display case which gives space to each of the countries to display some of the elements that are important for that particular country.
To the left of the entrance is a staircase that takes guests to the second floor. An elevator is also available if needed. At the second floor guests cross a sky bridge over the center hallway. They enter a room set up with another large projection area showing some of the scenery of the Nordic countries. There are birch poles around to give the area an outdoor feel.
From the projection space one enters a large exhibit room that gives the history of the Nordic people. It starts all the way with the Vikings and follows the history through such things as the Protestant Reformation, World War II, and concludes at the end of the 21st century as the countries developed a strong democratic socialist agenda. The time line covers one entire wall and is filled with a lot of information. One of the interesting notes here is that in the northern part of the countries are an indigenous people group called the Sami. The unfortunate treatment of these peoples reminded me of how Americans and Canadians treated the indigenous peoples of North America. It’s a sad note in Nordic history as well.
In the center of the room are some separate exhibits related to the history. One space displays artifacts from the early culture, while another space focuses on the period of immigration to the US. The final space devotes itself to Scandinavian design and points out the important elements of that concept.
Visitors cross another sky bridge to arrive at the next room which focuses on the arrival of Nordic immigrants to the United States. This is not presented so much historically but more topically such as the locations where the immigrants settled. The presentation notes the importance of the upper Midwest and the influence of the Lutheran Church, particularly its emphasis on education. Of course there is a focus on those immigrants who came all the way out to the Pacific Northwest. Many of these came because of the forest work and the fishing which was familiar to them from their home countries. At the end of the room is a movie in which current residents talk about the stories of their families. A member of the Nordstrom family shares their story as one of the most well known of the Nordic families here in Seattle.
In the center of the room is a large display area with items which Nordic immigrants brought and used here. These include such items as household goods, toys, as well as tools of the trades. There is also a section of fishing gear and another devoted to logging equipment. Throughout the displays one can see the unique Scandinavian designs in some of the items being shared.
There is one final room which seeks to be an interactive room. I don’t know how successful it is. Throughout the previous exhibits the museum emphasized that the Nordic culture focuses on four specific perspectives. These are openness, social justice, connection to nature, and innovation. There are computers available in this room that allow you to give your thoughts regarding these perspectives. There are also some interesting examples. The shoes made of fish skin fascinated me the most. I’m not sure how well they work, but they were a example of the connection to nature along with innovation.
The tour ends at the typical gift shop. Step around the corner and find a small coffee shop with a very limited menu. I can recommend the chocolate chip cookies. They are very chocolaty and delicious.
If you are of of Nordic decent or have any interest in that culture or period of American history, this museum would be well worth your time. My visit on a Thursday afternoon was fairly quiet with only a few other visitors. I’m sure traffic on the weekends is heavier. If you are looking for something else to do in the area, head on over to the Ballard Locks. That is always an interesting place to spend some time.
Have you had a chance to visit someplace to learn about your personal heritage? What was your experience? I’m always interested in your thoughts so leave a comment in the box below.