Immigrant plaque unveiling welcomes spring
- Lori Ann Reinhall
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
On March 22, a new plaque with with 53 + immigrant names was unveiled at Leif Erikson Plaza at Seattle's Shilshole Bay. The new plaque was added to commemorate the 2025 bicentennial of 200 years of organized Norwegian immigration to North America.
Under sunny blue skies with an early spring chill in the air, Kristine Leander, president of the Leif Erikson International Foundation, greeted the afternoon's guests. In the course of the afternoon, she talked about the history of the project and its significance for the Greater Seattle community,
Leander also shared remarks from the Seattle-Bergen Sister City Association (SBSCA) Immediate Past President Lori Ann Reinhall, who was unable to attend.
The high point of the afternoon was a the unveiling of the new plaque by Lāth Carlson, executive director and CEO of the National Nordic Museum.
The ceremony included musical performances by the Norwegian Ladies Chorus and the Skandia Kapell. Refreshments were provided by LEIF.
To remember this special day, guests were invited to take home a beautiful ceramic flower as a gift from the SBSCA. The flowers had come to Seattle with the Flora Metamorphicae exhibit from Bergen, which was on display at the Nordic Heritage Museum in 2015. After the exhibit, they were gifted to the association.
Following is Seattle-Bergen Sister City Association Immediate Past President Lori Ann Reinhall's message on this special occasion.
Dear friends,
It is with deep regret that I am unable to be with you today but know that I am there with you in my heart.
When Kristine Leander and I talked about plans to celebrate 200 years of organized Norwegian immigration in 2025, it became clear that the Leif Erikson Memorial Plaza was an important place to gather and remember all those who came before us.
We soon agreed that a new plaque with the names of 53 immigrants should be added to one of the stones, symbolic of the 53 Norwegians who arrived in New York City Harbor on board the ship Restauration on July 4, 1825. They were 52 adults and a baby, all looking for a life of religious freedom and opportunity in the New Land.
Their story represents all that is good about our country and is a tremendous source of pride for us as Scandinavian Americans and all children of immigrants.
Today is an extra special day for me, because I have added not only the names of my beloved maternal grandparents but the names of my husband, Ulf, and his brother, Per, more recent immigrants to the Pacific Northwest. They are living proof of what this country can give to you and what you can give back to it. I am so proud of them.
Now, as we have just passed the vernal equinox, we can embrace the promise of spring, a time of renewal, hope, and transition—an important message for us in these times.
Each spring, flowers mark the end of winter and the arrival of light. Flowers are an important part of Nordic cultural life, as each special occasion calls for their vibrant color — and today is no exception.
To mark this special occasion, we also have something for you from the Seattle-Bergen Sister City Association: the ceramic flowers of the Flora Metamorphicae artists from our Norwegian sister city, Bergen.
In 2015, after an exhibit at the Nordic Heritage Museum, these ceramic flowers were gifted to our organization by the artists who created them. Each is unique, and these beautiful flowers have been part of many of our events over the years. They have brought us much joy, and now we want to share them with you. We invite each of you to take home a flower to save as a cherished memory of this beautiful day.
Friends, thank you for coming today and for all that you do to keep our Nordic community so alive. I wish you all the very best and look forward to seeing you again soon.
Lori Ann Reinhall
Immediate Past President
Seattle-Bergen Sister City Association
